Release #345-00

 

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Sunny Mindel/Lynn Rasic (212) 788-2958

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani welcomed members of the New York City German American community to Gracie Mansion this evening to celebrate the German American Friendship Week. The Mayor was also joined at the annual celebration by New York Yankees Owner and Grand Marshall of the German American Steuben Parade George Steinbrenner, General Chairman of the Parade William Hetzler, and Department for the Aging Commissioner Herbert Stupp.

"The contributions of German immigrants literally go back to the earliest days of our city and are remain present ," Mayor Giuliani said. "All New Yorkers are invited to join in celebrating German American Friendship Week."

"It is with great pleasure that I present the German American Friendship Week Proclamation to the General Chairman of the German American Steuben Day Parade Bill Hetzler, recognizing the contributions of German-Americans to the development of our City."

Among the festivities during German American Friendship Week are a two-day Oktoberfest celebration at the South Street Seaport featuring the German-built tall ship Peking, and the 43rd Annual German American Steuben Parade.

On September 16th a mass at Saint Patrick's cathedral precedes the 43rd annual German American Steuben Parade, named for Prussian army officer Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben, who helped train the continental army and mold it into a powerful military force. Thousands of marchers up Fifth Avenue represent hundreds of German American organizations, marching bands fill the air with music, and floats celebrate the community's pride in its history and cultural heritage. The day culminates with a German American Friendship Party in beautiful Central Park, and festivities continue the next day with events in New Jersey and on long island, as we all celebrate the community's past and present contributions.