[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 4] [Senate] [Pages 5782-5783] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 106--RECOGNIZING THE HERMANN MONUMENT AND HERMANN HEIGHTS PARK IN NEW ULM, MINNESOTA, AS A NATIONAL SYMBOL OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICANS OF GERMAN HERITAGE Mr. GRAMS (for himself and Mr. Wellstone) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: S. Con. Res. 106 Whereas there are currently more than 57,900,000 individuals of German heritage residing in the United States, who comprise nearly 25 percent of the population of the United States and are therefore the largest ethnic group in the United States; Whereas those of German heritage are not descendants of only 1 political entity, but of all German-speaking areas; Whereas Americans of German heritage have made countless contributions to American culture, arts, and industry, the American military, and American government; Whereas there is no nationally recognized tangible symbol dedicated to German Americans and their positive contributions to the United States; Whereas the story of Hermann the Cheruscan parallels that of the American Founding Fathers, because he was a freedom fighter who united ancient German tribes in order to shed the yoke of Roman tyranny and preserve freedom for the territory of present-day Germany; Whereas the Hermann Monument located in Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, was dedicated in 1897 to honor the spirit of freedom and was later dedicated to all German immigrants who settled in New Ulm and elsewhere in the United States; and Whereas the Hermann Monument has been recognized as a site of special historical significance by the United States Government, by inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, is recognized by Congress as a national symbol of the contributions of Americans of German heritage. Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to submit a concurrent resolution designating Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, as national symbols of the contributions of Americans of German Heritage. I would like to thank Congressman David Minge and the other members of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation for introducing a similar resolution in the House of Representatives. Mr. President, I'd be surprised if anyone in this chamber has heard of Hermann Monument, but I would like to take a few minutes to explain its significance to the City of New Ulm, the State of Minnesota, and Americans of German Heritage across the United States. The Hermann Monument was erected in 1889 as a tribute to German immigrants to the United States. It honors Hermann the Cheruscan, who forged the creation of a united Germany by defeating three Roman Legions who had occupied the area now known as Germany. Hermann remains a symbol of German history, culture, dedication, and perseverance. The Hermann Monument, made of copper sheeting riveted to a steel interior frame, was dedicated in New Ulm, Minnesota, on September 25, 1897. It stands 102 feet tall and is the second largest copper statue in the United States, behind only the Statue of Liberty. The Hermann monument remains the only memorial in the United States dedicated to German heritage and the contributions to American culture, arts, industry, and government. I believe it's also important to note that there are now almost 58,000,000 individuals of German heritage living in the United States, comprising nearly 25 percent of our nation's population. That number makes German-Americans the largest ethnic group in the United States. In Minnesota, the number doubles to roughly 50 percent of Minnesotans being of German heritage. Today, however, the Hermann Monument faces a serious threat from over 100 years of rain, wind, heat, humidity, hail and other challenges that have rendered the monument in need of restoration. Thankfully, the people of New Ulm have formed the Hermann Monument Renovation Project to raise the roughly $1.75 million needed to restore the monument and construct an Interpretive Center at its base. Mr. President, the legislation Senator Wellstone and I are introducing provides no funding for the restoration of the Hermann Monument. In fact, the Resolution costs the Federal Government nothing. Instead, our Resolution simply recognizes the Hermann Monument as a national symbol of the contributions of German Americans and gives the restoration project a boost in the arm. Our Resolution is a way for every member of the Senate to recognize the contributions of German Americans across the country. It doesn't preclude another such designation in the United States nor does it designate the Hermann Monument as the only National symbol for German Americans. [[Page 5783]] Mr. President, I hope my colleagues will join me, Senator Wellstone, the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, the Society of German-American Studies, the Steuben Society of America, the City of New Ulm, and the people of Minnesota in supporting this Resolution recognizing the contributions of German Americans and the national significance of New Ulm's Hermann Monument. ____________________