Through our lobbying efforts Indiana Senator Richard Lugar and Congressman Lee Hamilton first introduced for us Public Law 100-104 designating October 6, 1987, as "German-American Day." A proclamation was issued by President Reagan October 2, 1987 and signed in a Rose Garden ceremony with quite a few IGHS members present. Proclamations have been issued ever since by the President. The German-American Joint Action Committee (GAJAK) was formed with the main objective of promoting German-American events in Washington, D.C. and nationwide. It is made up of the German American National Congress (Dank), the United German American Committee of the U.S.A and the Steuben Society of America.

In 1995 GAJAK recommended that a German-American Heritage Month be established, based on the model of other ethnic groups, such as National Hispanic Heritage Month, Polish-American Heritage Month, Italian-American Heritage Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month. It was resolved "to declare the period from mid-September to about mid-October German-American Heritage Month. All of the activities in the German-American community that fall within this period (i.e. Steuben Parades, summer festivals, Oktoberfests, concerts, exhibits and other special events) should be identified as celebrations of our German-American heritage."

This measure never passed Congress. However, if we look at our Indiana activities, it most certainly is a reality in Hoosierland! So, let's celebrate the month of the Germans!

Ruth Reichmann
Max Kade German-American Center, IUPUI

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