    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 10095 of October 5, 2020
    German-American Day, 2020
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation
    Since our founding, German-Americans have been central to our progress
    as a Nation. Industrious and faithful early German immigrants came to
    our shores to fulfill dreams of economic opportunity and to live out
    their faith free from government interference. These men and women
    established families and built livelihoods, exhibiting virtues that
    helped form our unique American ethos and passing down tradi-

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    tions that continue to shape our cultural identity. Today, on German-
    American Day, we commemorate the extraordinary contributions of German-
    Americans to our country, and we pay tribute to the more than 43 million
    Americans who, like myself, claim German heritage.
    The story of German-Americans is embedded in the most sacred chapters of
    American lore. When members of the first Continental Congress met in
    Philadelphia to forge a future of freedom on this continent, they walked
    down streets brimming with German businesses. Their deliberations were
    diligently reported in German-language broadsides and rigorously debated
    in German-owned coffeehouses. On July 4, 1776, when the Founding Fathers
    declared our independence, a German-language newspaper was the first to
    break the news to the new Nation. The next day, the streets were flooded
    with German translations of Thomas Jefferson's revolutionary words
    proclaiming that ``all men are created equal.'';
    Ever since, Americans of German descent have left their mark on our
    history. German influence played a large role in establishing our
    unyielding commitment to universal public education. It was a German-
    American, Margarethe Meyer Schurz, who opened the first kindergarten in
    America. German-Americans helped champion physical education and built
    the first gymnasiums for school buildings, positively affecting the
    physical health of our schoolchildren. German-Americans also introduced
    vocational training in public schools, providing new avenues for
    economic empowerment for young people and fueling American prosperity.
    Over the years, German customs have also become infused into American
    culture. Our cherished Christmas and Easter traditions are influenced by
    practices of early German arrivals. At Christmastime, we draw on German
    culture when we decorate Christmas trees and exchange gifts. During
    Easter, we have German immigrants to thank for our Easter egg hunts.
    These traditionally German customs have become staples of American
    culture and continue to unite Americans of all backgrounds.
    This month also marks the 30th anniversary of German reunification
    following the fall of the Berlin Wall in November of 1989. This historic
    moment marked a triumph for democracy and paved the way for a more free
    and open Europe. As we celebrate the many contributions of German-
    Americans to our country, we also celebrate our strong transatlantic
    ties with Germany and recommit to working together to forge a brighter
    future for both our nations and the world.
    Today, we celebrate the societal achievements and cultural contributions
    of all German-Americans and reflect on the hardworking and efficient
    spirit that they have imbued in our national character. From engineers
    and doctors to bakers and inventors, they have strengthened our economy
    and enriched our communities. Thanks in part to their dedication and
    hard work, our country remains a shining beacon of freedom and
    prosperity.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2020, as
    German-American Day. I call upon all Americans to celebrate the
    achievements and contributions of German Americans to our Nation with
    appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

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    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of
    October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    fifth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP