The Steuben Society of America

2/19/08 UPDATE!!!

The National Council's Education Committee announces the availability of the annual Annual Steuben Society of America Student Award for Outstanding Achievement in German-American Studies. For many years, we presented this award to graduates at the University of Cincinnati, now we are opening up the competition...details

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Greetings From The National Chairman

Welcome to the official website of the Steuben Society of America.

For those of you who are not familiar with our organization, here is some basic information about us. The Steuben Society of America was founded in May of 1919, in the aftermath of the First World War, by patriotic Americans of German descent. Our mission from the inception of our organization to the present day has remained essentially unchanged. Our goals are to foster good citizenship in the German-American community, to educate the public as to the positive role our ethnic group has always played in American society, and to preserve a sense of ethnic pride amongst German-Americans.

Monument of Von Steuben at Monmouth Park, NJ. Dedicated May 2004 by Paul Bette with the Molly Pitcher and Peter Muehlenberg Units,
Photo by C. Zorn-Scott

By no means was it an accident that our founders chose to name our organization after one of the greatest German-Americans. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben epitomizes all the virtues our society holds most dear. The baron dedicated his life to public service. Von Steuben was recruited to the cause of American Liberty by Benjamin Franklin who persuaded the baron to offer his services, without compensation, to the Continental Congress. The baron, a Prussian officer by training, was given the rank of Major General in the Continental Army and distinguished himself as our country’s first effective Inspector General. He trained the troops through the brutal winter at Valley Forge where he converted a loosely assembled hodgepodge of untrained militia into a fighting force capable of standing toe to toe with the mighty British Army. General Washington credited the training and discipline that von Steuben brought to the Continental Army as being indispensable to America’s victory in the Revolutionary War. After the war, von Steuben, unlike other foreign generals who fought on our side, remained in America and became a citizen. The baron’s commitment to public service did not end upon his retirement from the Army. He was a founding member of the Order of Cincinnati, our country’s first veteran aid organization. He was also a charter member of the New York State Board of Regents.

The baron’s commitment to public service and to education has served as a template for the Steuben Society itself. Today we promote civic awareness and ethnic pride via numerous scholarship programs at both the local level and national level. We also support the teaching of German in schools and the promotion of the field of German-American Studies. One of our proudest moments occurred in May of 2004, when the Steuben Society, in partnership with the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield, unveiled a statue of Baron von Steuben at the Monmouth Battlefield State Park in New Jersey.

If you are an American citizen of voting age who descends from at least one ancestor whose native tongue was German, I encourage you to consider joining us. Also, all donations made to the National Council are tax deductible. Your financial support of our programs would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to call our Executive Office at 718-381-0900 if you would like more information.

Governor Charlie Crist declares October to be German American Month in Florida

Very truly yours,

Randall J. Ratje

German American Day 2007

Proklamation des Präsidenten zum German-American Day, 2007
A Proclamation by the President of the United States

Generations of German Americans have helped shape our national culture and advance our legacy of freedom. On German-American Day, we recognize the many contributions that Americans of German descent have made to our vibrant country.

Präsident Georg Bush, Foto: dpa

German immigrants, in search of a brighter future, were among the first pioneers to settle in Jamestown. Since then, German Americans have influenced our society in all walks of life and helped expand our democratic heritage and our deeply held belief in individual liberty. The leadership and strong spirit of German Americans have helped shape our country and advance the great blessings of our Nation.

German-American Day is also an opportunity to honor the strong ties between the United States and Germany and to celebrate our friendship. On this day, we underscore our commitment to working together to promote peace and making the world a more hopeful place.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2007, as German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to celebrate the many contributions German Americans have made to our Nation's liberty and prosperity.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH