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WHEREAS, those of German descent began immigrating to Pittsburgh in 1683, continuing in three large waves prior to 1776 and another just after WWII to be near family who had emigrated here before the war; and
WHEREAS, Benjamin Franklin admired the will and work ethic of these welcomed German immigrants of “Deutschtown,” from lower Troy Hill through East Allegheny, who established skilled businesses, singing clubs, and other organizations; and
WHEREAS, as of the 2000 census, most Western Pennsylvanians were of German origin noting the natural beauty as being reminiscent of Germany; and
WHEREAS, in 1991, President George H. W. Bush issued a proclamation recognizing every October 6 as German-American Day; and
WHEREAS, currently, Germany invests in Pittsburgh more than any other city in the U.S., operating 70 German owned companies, running over 140 establishments employing about 11,000 individuals in Southwestern Pennsylvania including the U.S. headquarters for seven major companies and 12 of the 20 largest German companies have offices in the Pittsburgh area, including Bayer, Siemens, Hochtief, Veka and BASF, additionally employing 5,680; and
WHEREAS, this year's Alliance of Germanic Societies of Pittsburgh luncheon, on September 18th, honored Archabbot Boniface Wimmer and Heino Cölle; and
WHEREAS, Archabbot Wimmer, founder of the Benedictine Order in North America, settled in Unity, Pa., in 1846 to help poor German immigrants blend into Deutschtown, and established a Benedictine Monastery, drawing the attention and support of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, who allowed the Archabbot to established Saint Vincent Archabby College and Seminary in Latrobe, Saint Mary's Priory in Deutchtown, seven Benedictine abbeys, 150 Benedictine parishes, and 75 Benedictine schools in the U.S., bringing faith, hope and education to thousands of poor German immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Heino Cölle, born in Berlin, Germany, and arrested and sentenced to hard labor in ...
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