On Oct. 9, members of Garden City High School’s junior class, accompanied by German teacher Susanne Basile, participated in the annual German American Day flag-raising ceremony at the Nassau County Executive Building in Mineola.

Hosted by Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Ute Wolff Lally and the German American Culture Council, the ceremony celebrates German American heritage, the contributions of German Americans and the reunification of Germany.

The event opened with the presentation of the flags of the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany, followed by the national anthems of both countries. Legislators John Giuffré and Kayla Knight then presented a proclamation recognizing the many contributions of Americans of German heritage to the development of the United States.

Garden City students also delivered speeches entirely in German, sharing what they enjoy most about learning the language. They highlighted the opportunity to experience the spirit of German “Gemütlichkeit,” or warmth and togetherness, as well as the extracurricular activities and special trips organized throughout the year by Frau Basile.