Frank Nechvatal
The German Club held its annual Oktoberfest on the 26th of October. The fest featured Brats, sauerkraut, German-style fried potatoes, sautéed red cabbage and German chocolate cake. A no-host Biergarten was available with $3.00 biers. Accordion music was presented by Bob Doszak. It was a fun time for all.
For the November meeting, we will be showing a video from the Goethe Institute about German immigration into Texas starting in 1849. Bring your movie goodies to enjoy during the video. In December, we will have our annual Christmas dinner – stay tuned.
Fun German facts:
October 6 was German-American Day. This is a celebration of the German-American heritage. With 46 million German-Americans calling the U.S. their home, they make up the largest ethnic group in the United States. German immigration began with Quaker and Mennonite families coming to Pennsylvania in July of 1683. On the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between the White House and the Washington Monument, you will find the German-American Friendship Garden. This garden features flowers and plants that are native to both the U.S. and Germany. The garden was commissioned in the 1980s to commemorate the 300th anniversary of German immigration. In 1988, former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl stood with President Ronald Reagan to dedicate this garden. At this year’s celebration, President Trump made a statement that reads, “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.”
auf wiedersehen