German-American Day
German Haus
Seattle
October 6, 2008

Consul General  SchÜtte, Honorary Consul Walker, my good German friends:

Thank you for inviting me to speak before you on this memorable day, the day that Germans across America mark the date in 1683 when 13 families from Krefeld landed in Philadelphia. 

This is also the 21^st anniversary of when the celebration of German-American Day on October 6 became public law by Congressional resolution in this country, followed by a proclamation by President Reagan read on the White House lawn that the day should be observed with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

So this year marks the 325^th anniversary of the first German immigrants to the U.S.  It is wonderful that there continue to be celebrations like this to observe such an important occasion.  

German Americans of course have made their mark on America throughout these three and a quarter centuries: People like inventor George Westinghouse, diplomat Henry Kissinger and aviator Eddie Rickenbacker are three famous German Americans.

Germany for me will always have a special place in my heart. Forty years ago this year I graduated from Frankfurt American High School and I recently celebrated that occasion with some of my classmates here in Seattle at our class reunion.

Today though we also celebrate two anniversaries that are much more important than my class reunion. October 3 of course marks the 18^th anniversary of reunification, when the five re-established states of East Germany joined the Federal Republic of Germany, or West Germany), and Berlin was united into a single city. And down came that hated wall!

Another momentous event in our shared history of course is the 60^th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.  Harry S. Truman was president of the U.S. and was at the time receiving the kind of reviews from the populace that our current president has “enjoyed” these latter years of his administration. America was facing a possible World War III with the Stalin-led Soviet Union threatening dominance in Berlin. 

We very much needed a lift, and the people of West Berlin did as well. Many were starving, in fact eating as little as 900 calories a day according to the research I’ve read. People were so desperate for food they were eating garbage from the streets.

In came American planes, along with the British, to try to bring security back to West Berlin.  The resulting airlift helped the West Berliners through an especially harsh winter, carrying over two million tons of supplies in 270,000 flights over the Soviet blockade of their city.

U.S. soldiers on the ground were especially kind, giving out sweet oranges to the children. In fact, some of the airlift included parachute drops of candy and these became known as the “candy bombers.”

So these acts of kindness are remembered and appreciated and remain a part of all that is good about this great country we live in.  In fact it started a tradition: U.S. soldiers today continue to do good works in the areas of the world they are in, it is a part of their operations.

Honorary Consul Walker worked tirelessly to get an exhibit about the Berlin Airlift on display here in Washington state and she tells us that will indeed happen first at Sea-Tac Airport in December then at the Museum of Flight in January. Congratulations!

So today is a day that we celebrate the German American Day, the Berlin Airlift, Reunification and all of the good things that people of German descent are contributing to America every day.

May we continue to have cause to celebrate and be proud of our heritage, who we are and what we can become in Washington and across these United States.

Thank you.