German-American Day

Today, October 6th, is German-American Day. It was a celebration of German heritage that was popular in the 19th century, faded away around World War I, and was again revived in 1987.
Around 1 in 4 Americans claim to have German ancestry. Some notable German-Americans are Adolph Coors, Albert Einstein, and the engineer whom designed the Brooklyn Bridge.
President Ronald Reagan, in his proclaimation of German-American Day, stated, "The United States has embraced a vast array of German traditions, institutions, and influences. Many of these have become so accepted as parts of our way of life that their ethnic origin has been obscured. For instance, Christmas trees and Broadway musicals are familiar features of American society. Our kindergartens, graduate schools, the social security system, and labor unions are all based on models derived from Germany.
German teachers, musicians, and enthusiastic amateurs have left an indelible imprint on classical music, hymns, choral singing, and marching bands in our country. In architecture and design, German contributions include the modern suspension bridge, Bauhaus, and Jugendstil. German-American scientists have helped make the United States the world's pioneer in research and technology. The American work ethic, a major factor in the rapid rise of the United States to preeminence in agriculture and industry, owes much to German-Americans' commitment to excellence."

http://german.about.com/od/teaching/a/geramday.htm