[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 119, 109th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 7940--OCT. 6, 2005
Proclamation 7940 of October 6, 2005
German-American Day, 2005
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
German Americans have played an important role in establishing America
as a land where liberty is protected for all of its citizens. Each year
on German-American Day, we celebrate the contributions the millions of
Americans of German descent have made to our great Nation.
Among the early German immigrants, many saw America as a beacon of
religious freedom and an opportunity for an improved standard of living.
German immigrants helped pioneer the first American colony at Jamestown.
Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg served as the first Speaker of the House
of Representatives; in this role, he certified the final version of the
Bill of Rights.
Throughout our country's history, men and women of German descent have
worn the uniform of the United States military to defend our country's
freedom. Among these were Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of
the United States Pacific Fleet during World War II, and General Dwight
D. Eisenhower, who went on to become one of America's Presidents of
German ancestry. Today, German-American troops continue to serve proudly
in our Nation's Armed Forces.
German Americans have enriched many other aspects of American life.
Albert Einstein's advancements in the field of physics help define our
understanding of the universe. Theodor Seuss Geisel, more commonly known
as Dr. Seuss, has captivated the imaginations of children for
generations with his timeless classics. Baseball great Lou Gehrig's
courage on and off the field continues to inspire the American spirit
more than 60 years after his death.
On German-American Day, we also honor the important friendship between
the United States and Germany. Our nations share beliefs in human rights
and dignity, and on this day, I join all Americans in celebrating the
bonds that tie our two nations and in reaffirming the importance of our
continuing friendship.
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, 2005, as
German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to celebrate the many
contributions German Americans have made to our Nation's liberty and
prosperity.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Inde

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pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.
GEORGE W. BUSH