Mr. Speaker. this year. 1983. marks the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the first German immigrants to North America. and the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the first German settlers to my own State of Maryland. The many contributions which German immigrants have made. both to their adopted Nation and to my State. are substantial. Today. I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues a German American organization which. over the years. has made significant contributions to the Washington area and my own district in Maryland. This organization is the Washington Saengerbund (Sangerbund). It was founded here in the District of Columbia in 1851. during one of the large waves of German immigration which brought so many outstanding men and women to these shores in the 19th century. Its original purpose was to foster German singing and German culture. and it was incredibly successful in this endeavor. The Washington Saengerbund sponsored the first major musical and operatic performances in the city. and it provided a center of European culture where likeminded citizens of many heritages gathered on a regular basis.
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