A Weekend Of German Culture

Seventh graders carrying the Middle School banner in the Steuben Parade in Manhattan. From left: Lindsay Schlichte, Bettina Hughes, Gabrielle Fressle, Nikita Rihal, and Samantha Tiger

They say it never rains on the Steuben Parade, and this year was no exception. A damp morning in Manhattan gave way to brilliant sunshine for the 50th anniversary of the annual parade, which celebrates General Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben and the contributions he and other German-Americans have made to the United States.

Garden City Middle School's German language students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades joined the September 15th celebration, marching up New York City's Fifth Avenue. They were joined by some 50 cultural groups, including bands, dance groups, marksmen, and others from all over Germany; German-American clubs and marching bands from the United States and Canada; and Garden City High School Sophomore Sarah Schlichte, a third-year honor student of German and 2007 Plattdeutsche Princess.

In honor of the parade's 50th anniversary, Henry Kissinger served as the Grand Marshal. A former Secretary of State, Dr. Kissinger is the highest ranking German-born politician in the United States. Other honored guests included Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Dr. Klaus Scharioth, Consul General Dr. Hans-Jurgen Heimsoeth, and New York State Supreme Court Justice Ute Wolff Lally, the highest ranking German-born woman in the United States.

Garden City Middle School students and fellow marcher at the Steuben Parade.

Garden City students and parent chaperones met Germans in "tracht," the traditional clothing of Bavaria, and others in the colorful dress of the Schwarzwald. They enjoyed a preview concert by a Magdeburg brass band, spoke with Germans from such places as Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin, and Hessen, and negotiated with a clown on stilts for some candies. Some of the older students even communicated with German natives in German. Once they began to march, Garden City students proudly carried the Middle School banner and were announced as they passed dignitaries in the reviewing stand.

Garden City High School Sophomore Sarah Schlichte, at the Ompahfest in Plattdeutsche Park, is this year's Plattdeutsche Princess.

The next day the sights and sounds of Germany were center stage again in Franklin Square at Plattdeutsche Park's annual Ompahfest, where 15 German language students from the High School celebrated German-American Day and Plattdeutsche Princess Sarah Schlichte reigned.

Dr. Hecker and her students extend their thanks to chaperones Mrs. Chianese, Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Kennelly, Mrs. Minett, Mrs. Tiger, Mrs. Umland, Mr. Knoell, and Mr. Vail.