Presidential Documents

47361 

Federal Register 

Vol. 82, No. 195 

Wednesday, October 11, 2017 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 9652 of October 5, 2017 

German-American Day, 2017 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

On October 6, 1683, 13 families landed in Philadelphia, having set sail 

earlier that year from the German city of Krefeld. These pioneers founded 

the first German settlement in America: Germantown, Pennsylvania, the 

first American community to formally protest the evils of slavery. Since 

this auspicious beginning, millions of German immigrants have come to 

our Nation in pursuit of personal and religious freedoms and economic 

opportunity. These immigrants and their descendants have changed the trajectory of the United States, and on German-American Day, we celebrate 

their role in helping our country thrive. 

The more than 44 million Americans who claim German heritage join previous generations in making important contributions to every facet of American life. As the proud grandson of German grandparents, I am keenly 

aware of how German Americans have helped drive our economy, enrich 

our culture, and protect and defend the land they embrace as their own. 

Notable German-American leaders in business and finance include William 

Boeing, John D. Rockefeller, Henry Heinz, and Milton S. Hershey. Many 

others, such as Neil Armstrong, George Herman ‘‘Babe’’ Ruth Jr., Walt Disney, 

Amelia Earhart, and the inimitable ‘‘Dr. Seuss’’ (Theodor Seuss Geisel) have 

become beloved figures. German Americans Chester Nimitz, John Pershing, 

and Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. are among the most decorated military officers 

in American history. American painters of German descent include Emanuel 

Leutze, best known for his classic work Washington Crossing the Delaware, 

and Albert Bierstadt, whose canvas captured the majestic beauty of the 

American West. German Americans have also designed some of the most 

iconic landmarks in the United States, including Johann August Roebling’s 

Brooklyn Bridge. Even the quintessential American hot dog owes a debt 

to German immigrant Charles Feltman, who debuted the savory treat when 

he opened the first hot dog stand at Coney Island. 

Today, the United States and Germany enjoy a close relationship through 

our shared history and common interests. As our Nation’s largest ancestry 

group, German Americans are rightfully proud of how their deep cultural, 

historical, and familial ties have helped strengthen this robust transatlantic 

relationship. A strong partnership between the United States and Germany 

is vital to ensuring that we live in a peaceful world filled with vibrant 

economic opportunities for all. 

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, 2017, 

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. 


ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with PRES DOCS
47362 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 195 / Wednesday, October 11, 2017 / Presidential Documents 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of 

October, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second. 

[FR Doc. 2017–22173 

Filed 10–10–17; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3295–F8–P 


ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with PRES DOCSTrump.EPS</GPH>