[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Proclamation 7715 of October 3, 2003
 
German-American Day, 2003

By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

German-American Day celebrates more than 300 years of German immigration
to our shores, beginning with the arrival of 13 Mennonite families from
Krefeld on October 6, 1683. Seeking a new life of freedom and
opportunity, these immigrants settled in Pennsylvania and founded
Germantown near the city of Philadelphia. On this day, we recognize the
contributions of those German pioneers, and millions of other German-
American immigrants and their descendants, to the life and culture of
our great Nation.
As one of the largest ethnic groups in the United States, German
Americans have greatly influenced our country in the fields of business,
government, law, science, athletics, the arts, and many others. Henry
Engelhard Steinway and his sons founded Steinway & Sons in 1853. The
300,000th Steinway piano, the ``golden grand,'' was presented to
President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938, and is still on display at the
White House. John Augustus Roebling and his son pioneered the
development of suspension bridges and wire cable. Their construction of
the Brooklyn Bridge is a lasting landmark to their skill, determination,
and innovation. And entrepreneurs such as John Davison Rockefeller, John
Wanamaker, and Milton Snavely Hershey helped to strengthen the American
economy and inspire others to reach for the American Dream.

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117 STAT. 3096

In addition to their many professional achievements, German Americans
have influenced American culture. From Christmas trees to kindergartens,
the United States has adopted many German traditions and institutions.
By celebrating and sharing their customs and traditions, German
Americans help to preserve their rich heritage and enhance the cultural
diversity of our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2003, as
German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize the
contributions to the liberty and prosperity of the United States of our
citizens of German descent.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH