Moments before I stepped out onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to ring The Closing Bell™ on the afternoon of September 1st, 2010, I met the legendary Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Grand Marshal in this year’s Steuben Day Parade. “You must be the queen!” she proclaimed, her 4’7” frame suddenly seeming much larger than it was.
“Yes, I’m Stephanie” I answered, shaking her hand. I continued, timidly, “I have to admit, my mother’s a huge fan of yours. Is it ok if I give you a hug from her?”
“Your mother, of course ! But you’re going to have to bend down here,” she told me, gesturing authoritatively with her hand. “You’re too tall,” she laughed, and gave me a hug.
I was there to represent the parade as Miss German America, before heading off to the Standard Hotel Biergarten for a reception with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, where he would officially proclaim the beginning of German-American Friendship Month in New York City. Ten minutes later, the group in attendance, which included the parade princesses and members of the parade committee, was posing for a picture, and Dr. Ruth was up front.
When the photographer held up her camera and asked us to all say cheese, Dr. Ruth exclaimed, “No! Say sex!”
We all erupted in laughter to create what I’m sure was a fantastic and lively portrait of the group. She brought genuine enthusiasm to the group, and was giddy when we finally made it to the balcony of the exchange to ring The Closing Bell™. And, as one reporter told me later, he had never seen the traders so excited to see any other celebrity on the floor.
September is German-American friendship month in New York, and in the past few weeks, the city has been brimming with activity in anticipation for the big German-American parade this Saturday afternoon. As the summer winds down, my appearances as queen of the parade have slowly become more frequent, and I’ve had the opportunity to meet more and more members of the German-American community. Dr. Ruth was one of these, and meeting her was certainly a highlight of my tenure as queen.
It’s a true honor to be able to represent my two homelands, Germany and the United States of America, as Queen of this year’s German-American Steuben Parade. My German-American identity has shaped who I am and how I interact with the world more than anything else in my life, and I’m so happy to share it with New York City this weekend.
The parade festivities begin this Friday at 11.30 AM with a welcoming ceremony for all visiting groups in Foley Square Park in Downtown Manhattan. This event is open to the public and will feature live performances from many of the bands marching in the Steuben Day Parade. That evening, the parade will be hosting a black-tie Gala Banquet at the Hilton & Towers. (for information on tickets, check out www.germanparadenyc.org/news33.html ) Dr. Ruth, along with Grand Marshal Dr. Michael Möller, CEO of the world-famous Hofbräuhaus will be in attendance.
On the day of the parade, Saturday, September 25, we’ll be starting at 9.30 AM with a Mass at St. Patrick´s Cathedral held by Archbishop Timothy Dolan in both German and English. And of course, the 53rd annual Steuben Day Parade, led by Dr. Ruth and Dr. Möller, starts at 12 Noon on Fifth Avenue and 68th Street. German clubs from around the country and from Germany will be in attendance, along with musicians, dancers, and a few special floats. The parade runs up to 86th street, and will finish with the biggest Oktoberfest of the year at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. I hope to see you all there!
Stephanie Russell-Kraft is Miss German-America 2010 and will be the Queen of the upcoming 53rd Annual German-American Steuben Parade in New York City, which will be held on Saturday, September 25 at noon on Fifth Avenue. For more information about the parade, the Oktoberfest Party in Central Park, and the other events of German-American Friendship Month, visit www.germanparadenyc.org
