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Frau Bürgermeisterin Schubert,
Herr Stäglin,
Herr Werner
Herr Zocher,
Richard Simmons,
It is a great honor and a great pleasure to be here this afternoon at the opening of the 43rd Deutsch-Amerikanisches Volksfest.
On behalf of the Embassy and the Embassy community, I would like to commend Richard Simmons and his team for putting on another great show.
I would also like to thank the city authorities, especially here in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, for their support of the Volksfest. Frau Schubert and Herr Stäglin, thank you very much.
More than any other German city, Berlin has a special place in the hearts of Americans. This is where we worked together closest with our German friends over the past decades -- and where we accomplished the most.
For the past 43 years, the German-American Volksfest has also had a place in the hearts of Germans and Americans living in Berlin. Every year there has been a great party to look forward to.
The U.S. military may have started this festival, but -- thanks to people like Richard Simmons and all of you -- it has taken on a life of its own. The fact that the German-American Volksfest is still so popular proves that the very special connection that grew up between Germans and Americans over the years is still very much alive.
But the Volksfest is also a place to find out more about America -- and Americans.
I am especially pleased that this year the part of America that I call home -- the heartland of America, the Great Lakes region -- is being showcased. You are all in for a treat I could talk for a long time about some of my favorite places in my home state of Indiana -- but I think you will all hear and see enough.
Let me just pass on to you the recommendation of one of America's finest authors. John Steinbeck wrote, "The earth was generous and outgoing here in the heartland, and I think the people took a cue from it."
Like the people of Berlin who have been so good to us.
Ich wünsche dem Volksfest viel Erfolg -- und uns allen viel Spaß!
Vielen Dank.
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The Ambassador
