Press Release April 29, 2005
GWA condemns
Sen. Grassley's
Anti-German Actions
As reported in the April 29th issue of the Washington Post, Sen. Chuck Grassley (Rep.-Iowa) has intervened to prevent the participation of Joseph Schmitz, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Defense, in this weekend’s Potsdam commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of German-American hero, Baron Von Steuben, for whom the Steuben Society was named. Von Steuben was the first Inspector General of the U.S. Army, so the attendance of the current IG was a fitting and appropriate sign of respect.
Grassley intervened with Department of Defense, finding that the $16,000 price tag of the trip to honor von Steuben was “waste.” In so doing he shows the value that he puts on the sensitivities of the 60,000,000 Americans of German heritage. Honoring their heroes is worth less to Mr. Grassley than the cost of one government automobile.
The GWA calls upon German-Americans and Germans worldwide to contact Sen. Grassley’s office in Washington or Iowa and complain about this disgraceful action. Sen. Grassley’s D.C. office can be reached through the congressional switchboard at 202 225-3121.