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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 1948 by the Soviets for anti-communistic propaganda, met his wife Dana in a refugee camp, another political prisoner, and they married in 1956 and moved to the U.S. in 1960; and
WHEREAS, Mr. & Mrs. Cölle took over the "German Radio Hour" in Pittsburgh, becoming "The Voice of Germanic Societies," Mr. Cölle also belonging to many societies helped to found; and he organized and emceed "Bavarian Oktoberfest" at Station Square bringing the Tri-State area a slice of German culture, while also organizing the annual "Rheinland Karneval" at Duquesne University; and
WHEREAS, The Alliance of Germanic Societies of Pittsburgh, consisting of the Alpen Schuhplattler und Trachten Verein, Austrian Cultural Society, DANK (Pittsburgh Chapter), East Pittsburgh Saengerbund, Greater Beneficial Union of Pittsburgh, G.T.V. D'Lustigen Isartaler, Institute for German American Relations, Pittsburgh District Kinderchor, Pittsburgh District Nord-Amerikanisher Saengerbund, Pittsburgh Swiss Singers, Swiss American Society of Pittsburgh, Teutonia Damenchor, Teutonia Maennerchor, Teutonia Maennerchor Club, and the Austrian, German, and Swiss Nationality Rooms of the University of Pittsburgh celebrated German-American day on September 18, 2010;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh once again thanks all of the German immigrants for their industry, skills and good citizenship, and the current German companies that contribute daily to the economy of this region for they have added to the richness of our area; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby honor Heino Cölle and also the memory of Archabbot Wimmer, and all the organizations and individuals involved in the annual celebration and does hereby declare Wednesday, October 6, 2010, as German Heritage Day, in the City of Pittsburgh. Glück auf!