German-Americans To Take To Fifth Avenue For Steuben Parade
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- German-Americans will march up Fifth Avenue this weekend for the 58th annual Steuben Parade.
As WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported, the parade will step off on Saturday, with German bands marching and age-old dances being performed in traditional costumes.
The parade this year will have three grand marshals, including actor John Ratzenberger – best known as Cliff Clavin on "Cheers." Ratzenberger also producer and starred in "Made in America" on the Travel Channel.
German-Americans To Take To Fifth Avenue For Steuben Parade
Joining Ratzenberger as grand marshals will be MSNBC anchor Contessa Brewer, and Klaus Wowereit, who served as the governing mayor of Berlin from 2001 until 2014 and as president of the Bundesrat – the fourth highest office in Germany – in 2001 and 2002.
Wowereit told Lamb that Germans are commemorating some historic moments.
"We are happy to celebrate this year on the 3rd of October the 25th anniversary of reunification, and last year, we celebrated 25 years' fall of the wall," Wowereit said. "And that was, for us, very, very important, and we are so thankful for the help from the Americans."
Wowereit also cited President Harry S Truman's Berlin airlift, which saved his city, as well as the hope expressed in President John F. Kennedy's "Ich Bin ein Berliner" speech.
The parade will proceed up Fifth Avenue between 65th and 86th streets. Following the procession, the Steuben Parade Oktoberfest will be held in Central Park on the Summer Stage.
