The German American National Congress (D.A.N.K.) and it's chapters mounted the first national campaign in 1987 urging all German Americans, their organizations and friends, to write or phone their senators and congressmen, and ask them to vote for the Joint Congressional Resolution establishing German American Day. Altogether, D.A.N.K. alone effected about 18,000+ mailings, in addition to the thousands of telephone calls and personal contacts. Then the U.S. Congress passed the resolution August 18, 1987.

In 1988 D.A.N.K., the United German American Committee of the U.S.A., Inc., (VDAK), and the Steuben Society of America, joined hands and founded the German American Joint Action Committee (GAJAC). GAJAC has subsequently petitioned the Congress and Government leaders to issue resolutions and proclamations for the annual German American Day, and has effected all necessary contact with the German-American community and enlisted nationwide support.   Through their hard work and the efforts of many other German-American organizations we have secured annual celebrations of German American Day.

German American Day honors 300+ years of German immigration to the USA, beginning with the arrival of the first 13 Mennonite immigrant families from Krefeld on October 6, 1683, who subsequently founded Germantown, Pennsylvania.

The U.S. Congress remembered this tri-centennial of German immigration and in its October 5, 1987 Joint Congressional Resolution that "authorizes and requests President Ronald Reagan to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe such day with appropriate ceremonies and activities..." (SJ Res. 108/89).

President Reagan officially proclaimed the day in the Rose Garden of the White House, October 5, 1987 where D.A.N.K. National President, Elsbeth Seewald, presented him with copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in the German language. Testimony to the early loyalty, love and support of German immigrants for their new homeland. On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress determined American independence from colonial ties and proclaimed the birth of a new and free nation. German newspapers in Philadelphia published the German translation of the document shortly thereafter. In her remarks Mrs. Seewald recalled that the history of German-American participation in American life is "the long red thread", which so closely entwines with the fabric of American history since that first Independence Day in 1776.

U.S. Presidents to date issued Presidential German American Day proclamations. President George Bush, who was then Vice-President Bush noted at the German-American Tri-Centennial celebration in Philadelphia in 1983 that this was one time he wished that there wouId be a "c" (Busch) in his name.

In 1991, now as President of the United States, he proclaimed German American Day, and said: "When German settlers landed in America near Philadelphia on October 6, 1683, they established the first of the many ties that exist between the United States and Germany. Since then generations of German immigrants and their descendants have made outstanding contributions to American history and culture. However, the ties that we celebrate today are not only those born of kinship but also those based on common values and aspirations. Indeed, the same love of liberty that led the first German immigrants to these shores continues to animate U.S.-German relations."

German unification became reality in 1990, and the President especially emphasized "a new, united Germany that stands in friendship with the United States also stands as our partner in leadership" and said that Germany not only symbolizes a new Europe but is a partner with, and stands in friendship with the United States.

The President announced the upcoming July 1992 Summit meeting in Munich, where, for the first time, a united Germany hosted the world's seven leading industrial nations.

President Clinton put it this way in October 1998: "America has always drawn its strength from the millions of people who have come here in search of freedom and the opportunity to live out their dreams ... Germans and German-Americans have profoundly influenced every facet of American life with their energy, creativity, and strong work ethic. They have enriched the economic and commercial life of the United States, and it is befitting that we set aside this special day to acknowledge their many contributions to our liberty, culture and democracy. All of us can take pride in the accomplishments of German Americans as soldiers and statesmen, scientists and musicians, artisans and educators. It is fitting that we set aside this special day to remember and celebrate how much German Americans have done to preserve out ideals, enrich our culture, and strengthen out democracy."

From Bonn, Germany, Chancellor Helmut Kohl sent the following message in 1991: "To all organizers of and participants in German American Day I convey my most cordial greetings. On this day the American nation honors the more than 300 years of historical contributions made by German immigrants, and Germans and Americans remember their joint heritage. When President Reagan proclaimed German American Day in 1987 for the first time, Europe was still divided by the Iron Curtain. We Germans did regain our unity in freedom in a peaceful way. The thanks for this deservedly is owed to the American people, who secured European peace over 40 years. America stood by our side in the most difficult times, and we will never forget the contributions of U.S. Presidents. Even after the epochal changes in Europe and the World, which we all witnessed, friendship and partnership between Germans and Americans remain existential significance and a guarantee for a successful future. I hope that this year's German American Day will be another expression of this deep solidarity everywhere in America."

Ethnic holidays are part of immigrant culture. October 6, is the anniversary of German American Day. Appropriate celebrations are usually planned. GAJAC's member organizations who are once again asking all German-Americans, their friends everywhere, the media, legislators, schools, rabbis and pastors to initiate appropriate remembrances and celebrations. They especially urge people to have "grass roots" German American Day, and have neighbors and friends get together and tell them about the German-Americans and their history.