The German American Committee of St. Louis and the Missouri History Museum present

GERMAN AMERICAN DAY

Fest and Feast

OCTOBER 6, 2018

3652 S. Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118

10 am – 4 pm Join us for a FEST of German organizations! Meet and Greet the 18 German Organizations of the St. Louis Region and learn more about how you can become more involved and connect with your heritage! The hall is open from 10am to 4 pm and everyone is invited. Enjoy a day with all of the German organizations in St. Louis.

1 pm – 3pm Feast your way through Germany with a culinary tour! Enjoy an afternoon feast highlighting the culinary specialties of Germany! The Feast takes place in the Grand Hall and reservations must be made in advance as space is limited. For the dinner reservations $25 in advance go to http://mohistory.org/events/german-american-day-fest-and-feast_1538848800 and click on the register link at the bottom or call 314-746-4599 and ask for reservations. Enjoy the music, dancing and food of the Germany.

3-5 pm Following the Feast will begin FREE performances at 3pm by St. Louis’ own Mannerchor (Men’s Choir), Dammenchor (Women’s Choir) and our own Liederkranz, the oldest combined men and women’s German singing group west of the Mississippi.

JOIN US FOR A DAY LONG CELEBRATION OF THE ST. LOUIS GERMAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL GERMAN-AMERICAN DAY

This day is presented as part of

Germans in St. Louis: History, Culture, Community

Oct 3 – Germans in St. Louis: History, Culture, Community – What Makes Missouri So German? Missouri’s German roots run deep, but why? What were the driving forces behind German emigration, and why did so many Germans end up in our region? Join Dorris Keeven-Franke, Missouri Germans Consortium, for a look at the earliest waves of German settlers in Missouri, from the early 1800s through the Civil War. This program is free and takes place at the Missouri History Museum, at 7pm in the Lee Auditorium.
Oct 6 GERMAN AMERICAN DAY = FEST & FEAST Start by soaking up the culture and heritage of Missouri’s German American community, then enjoy an afternoon feast highlighting the culinary specialties of Germany!
This event opens at the German Cultural Society of St. Louis at 3652 S. Jefferson Ave., 63118 when the Hall opens at 10 am. Visit the hall and meet representatives of all 18 active German-American organizations in the St. Louis region. The Fest is free and is open until 4pm! The Feast begins at 1pm and is a delicious German meal and is $25 per person (or $20 for MHS members) and registration is required at mohistory.org/german. There will be lots of German entertainment and celebration throughout the day!
Oct 10 What STILL Makes Missouri so German – Missouri Germans Consortium – This Panel will include Consul General Herbert Quelle, Dr. Steve Belko, and others. It explores the German-American culture and community of today – the topics will include the German Heritage Corridor, Sister Cities and German Language Initiatives, and more. This event is free and takes place takes place at the Missouri History Museum

by The German American Committee of St. Louis, the Missouri Historical Society, and the Missouri Germans Consortium. For more information call 636-221-1524 or please visit one of our websites for more information

GermanAmerican Committee of St. Louis

Missouri Historical Society

MissouriGermans Consortium

Friedrich Hecker Event

Friedrich Hecker was a hero to the vast majority of German Americans living in the United States during the mid-19th Century. The Friedrich Hecker Monument was dedicated on October 1, 1882 before a crowd of over 15,000 in our beautiful Benton Park, in St. Louis, Missouri.Born September 28, 1811 in Eichtersheim, Grand Duchy of Baden, he was a German lawyer and politician, and one of the primary agitators in the 1848 Revolutions in Germany. Following the 1848 German Revolution he moved to the United States, but maintained an acute interest in events in Germany. In the spring of 1849, the Baden revolution re-ignited, and Hecker returned to Europe to participate. However, he only made it as far as Strassburg when word came that the insurrection had been defeated by Prussian troops and he returned to Illinois once again.

Leading up to the Civil War, he became increasingly focused on the issue of abolishing slavery, and wrote the forward to a German translation to Thomas Paine’s The Rights of Man so that all of his fellow Germans could know this great writing. After the Battle of Fort Sumpter, when Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers, Hecker would begin recruiting, and Illinois exceeded its allotment of 6,000 volunteers in five days. Hecker would serve as a Brigade commander in the Union Army during the Civil War, leading the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, XI Corps. After the war, Hecker returned to his farm in Summerfield, Illinois. It was in 1871 that he gave his very famous address at St. Louis of his enthusiasm for the German Americans and their glorious future in their newly united Fatherland, the United States. He passed away on March 24, 1881 and was buried at his farm in Lebanon, Illinois called Summerfield.

On Sunday, August 12, 2018 Johannes Fechner (MdB) a member of the German Bundestag, visited our area to lay wreaths at both the Benton Park Memorial and the burial site in Summerfield, Illinois. Members of the Illinois Civil war Hecker Regiment were at the Summerfield Ceremony along with members of the Missouri Sons of Union Veterans. The wreath laying at Benton Park took place at 10am. located at 2101 Wyoming St. St. Louis, 63118. The wreath laying at Summerfield took place at 12pm Noon and was at 9920 Summerfield South Rd, Lebanon, Illinois.

The beautiful afternoon was celebrated of course at the Hofbrauhaus St. Louis!

Quelle receives Freedom Award

GAHS honors German Consul General, Herbert Quelle, with the 2018 Friedrich Hecker Freedom Award.

GAHS President, James Martin, presented the award at the organization’s 28th Annual black-tie Diplomatic Reception & Dinner on 10 March 2018 celebrating the founding of the German American Heritage Society of Saint Louis in 1990 at the Racquet Club-St. Louis. The crystal award is presented, “in recognition of those who have helped in the promugation of cooperation and understanding between Germany and the United States” (photos courtesy of J.Martin, J.Hecker and M. Rambo).

Harry Wolf

Harry Wolf has had quite a life—and boy, does he have a knack for telling stories!

Harry grew up in Waterloo, Illinois, leaving home for a stint in the Marines in North Carolina and four years of college in Pennsylvania, but then he came back home, where he has been a key member of the Waterloo community for more than 60 years.

Harry is the driving force behind the Waterloo German Band, now in its 73rd year. Under Harry’s direction, the Waterloo German Band has delighted young and old with oompah music—not only in his home town, but all over the country . . . and in Germany, too!

Harry’s love of travel has led him to visit nearly 100 countries on six continents. Everywhere he goes, he experiences life to the fullest, and he brings home stories that he is now sharing with you. Enjoy! HarryWolfBook Order Form

You can even pick up a copy of Harry’s book in person at the Stubborn German (119 S. Main Street) or the Waterloo Republic-Times (205 W. Mill Street) in Waterloo.

558 pages · 6 × 9 inches
350+ photographs
Paperback · $20