October 6th marks German American Day, a celebration honoring the significant contributions of German immigrants to the United States. As a proud German-ish American myself, I’ve always held a meaningful connection to my heritage.
Growing up, I learned about my family’s German roots through stories, recipes, and the occasional German phrase. My Nana was a first-generation German American who spoke German fluently. Her recipes, passed down through generations, have become treasured family heirlooms.
Germantown in Philadelphia holds a special place in German American history as the site where the first German immigrants landed in the United States. (Fun fact: I was the first baby born in a newly remodeled nursery at Germantown Hospital.)
As I celebrate German American Day, I’m grateful for the opportunity to honor my family’s legacy and the countless others who have come before me, including a few Revolutionary War soldiers.
Their hard work, resilience, and cultural contributions have helped to shape the United States into the productive, diverse and vibrant nation it is today.