German Flag Flying in Front of City-County Building to Recognize German-American Friendship Day

October 06, 2023
County Board Supervisor Chuck Erickson, (608) 212-8753
County Board

The German flag is currently flying in front of the City-County Building, 210 MLK Jr. Blvd, Madison to commemorate the Day of German Unity (October 3) and German American Friendship Day (October 6).  

The Day of German Unity is the anniversary of German unification in 1990 when East and West Germany were reunified. East and West Germany were separated for 40 years, from 1949 to 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell.

President Ronald Reagan declared Oct. 6, 1983 as German American Friendship Day, or German-American Day, to commemorate the anniversary of the arrival of a group of German immigrants in 1683. The recognition is meant to celebrate German immigration and culture in the U.S.

In 2007 Dane County entered into a cooperative agreement with Landkreis (County) Kassel, Hessen, Germany to form a sister county relationship. The purpose of the agreement is to exchange ideas and build economic partnerships regarding transportation, education, culture, and the arts.

“It is important to have partnerships, including friendships locally and internationally.  On this German American Friendship day I’m proud that we are recognizing our partnership with Kassel and Germany,” said County Board Supervisor Chuck Erickson (District 23), Chair of the Kassel-Dane Sister County Task Force.  

Since 2007, Dane County has participated in multiple cultural exchanges with Kassel, Germany.  Additionally, a delegation from Dane County visited Kassel, and a delegation from Kassel has visited Dane County.  These exchanges and delegation visits have continued to foster the sister-county relationship as well as broaden the bounds of innovative ideas.