[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 39 (Monday, October 6, 2008)]
[Page 1293]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 8301--German-American Day, 2008

 October 3, 2008

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    For generations, German Americans have contributed to our Nation's 
identity, culture, and prosperity. On German-American Day, we recognize 
the many Americans with German ancestry who helped make our country 
great, and we celebrate our strong friendship with Germany.
    The people of Germany and the United States share important family 
and cultural ties, and millions of American citizens are of German 
descent. Some of their forebears were among the first to settle 
Jamestown, and they and many others like them helped lay the foundation 
for our country, which has become the most prominent symbol of freedom 
in the world. Many German Americans have shaped our way of life and 
added to our country's rich heritage.
    In celebrating German-American Day, we honor generations of German 
Americans who came to our shores with dreams of opportunity and 
contributed to the greatness of our country.
     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, 2008, 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 third day of 
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
third.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:30 a.m., October 6, 
2008]

Note: This proclamation will be published in the Federal Register on 
October 7.