Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim October 2026 as German-American Heritage Month in the State of New York

Senate Resolution No. 2126

BY: Senator GRIFFO

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        October 2026 as German-American  Heritage  Month  in
        the State of New York

  WHEREAS,  It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay just tribute to the cultural heritage of  the  ethnic  groups  which
comprise  and  contribute to the richness and diversity of the community
of the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and  in  keeping  with  its
time-honored  traditions,  it  is  the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim   October   2026   as
German-American Heritage Month in the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  In  the  1670s,  the  first  significant  groups of German
immigrants arrived in the British colonies, settling  primarily  in  New
York  and  Pennsylvania;  immigration  continued  in  very large numbers
during the 19th Century, with eight million arrivals from Germany; and

  WHEREAS, Many Germans arrived in North America seeking religious  or
political  freedom, economic opportunities greater than those in Europe,
and the chance to start fresh in the New World; and

  WHEREAS, The arrivals before 1850 were mostly farmers who sought out
the most productive land where their intensive farming techniques  would
pay off; after 1840, many came to cities where Germania, German-speaking
districts, soon emerged; and

  WHEREAS, German Americans established the first kindergartens in the
United  States,  introduced the Christmas tree tradition, and originated
popular American foods such as hot dogs and hamburgers; and

  WHEREAS, Today, German-American celebrations are held throughout the
country, one of the most well-known being  the  German-American  Steuben
Parade  in  New  York  City,  held  every  third  Saturday in September;
traditional Oktoberfest celebrations and German-American  Day  are  also
popular festivities; and

  WHEREAS,  Currently,  German  Americans  make  up  11.1% of New York
State's population, and approximately 49 million German  Americans  live
throughout the United States; and

  WHEREAS,  German  Americans  have  made significant contributions to
American society  as  doctors,  politicians,  musicians,  athletes,  and
teachers; and

  WHEREAS,  Based  in New York City, German American John Peter Zenger
began publication of the New York Weekly Journal  in  1733;  the  paper,
backed   by  several  prominent  lawyers  and  merchants,  attacked  the
administration of the British Royal Governor of New York, William Cosby;
and

  WHEREAS, Responsible for the content of the paper, John Peter Zenger
was arrested on libel charges and imprisoned in 1734; in the trial  that
followed,  he was defended by Andrew Hamilton who established truth as a
defense in cases of libel; the trial, which resulted in the  publisher's
acquittal, helped to establish freedom of the press in America; and

  WHEREAS,  Another  famous  German  American  was  Dwight David "Ike"
Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States from  1953-1961,  as
well as a decorated General in the United States Army; and

  WHEREAS,  During  World  War  II,  Dwight David Eisenhower served as
Supreme Commander of  the  Allied  Forces  in  Europe,  responsible  for
planning  and  supervising the successful invasion of France and Germany
in 1944-1945; in 1951, he became the  first  Supreme  Commander  of  the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); and

  WHEREAS,  German-American  Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the
aspirations and values that have been shared with the German people  for
generations  and  to  recognize the countless contributions of Americans
and New Yorkers of German descent  to  every  aspect  of  society;  now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim   October   2026   as
German-American  Heritage  Month  in  the  State  of New York; and be it
further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.