Speech #990055892

Protestant. and othersand their descendants have greatly enriched our Nation politically. culturally. educationally. and scientifically. They have made major contributions to the United States and the world. In order to create an enduring memorial in recognition of those immigrants who departed from Bremerhayen. the GermanAmerican Memorial Association was founded. The groups chairman is Hans Beyer of North Hills. PA. a naturalized American citizen with over 30 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Army and Reserves. Mr. Beyer is leading the group in the ambitious project of commissioning. funding. and erecting a statue at the port of Bremerhaven to memorialize the emigrants who departed for a new life in America. The proposed memorial statue. titled "the Immigrants." or "Auswander Denkmals." is the work of Frank Varga and is currently being cast by the Modern Art Foundry in New York. The statue captures the mixed emotions of families departing from relatives. friends. and roots toward a new way of life. The county of Bremen in the Federal Republic of Germany has endorsed the project by granting the statue a site in the vicinity of Bremerhavens Old Columbus Pier. The dedication of the statue of Bremerhaven is timed to coincide with the rededication of the Statue of Liberty in 1986 and will become part of an international celebration marking the spirit of liberty and the hopes of those who came to America. In part. the Bremerhaven Memorial will also serve as a reaffirmation of the ties that bind Europe and the United States. The common heritage we share as well as the unique American experience is graphically depicted in Vargas statue of an immigrant family. I wish to bring this laudable effort of the GermanAmerican Memorial Association to the attention of the House. I commend Mr.