This Pennsylvania German Flag, which was created by Peter V. Fritsch, was officially dedicated at the Allentown Court House in 1989 (public domain).

On June 29, 1976, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted P. L. 458, No. 113, directing that Pennsylvania German Day be observed annually on June 28, across the great Keystone State:

Section 1. In recognition of the cultural, educational and historical contributions from their heritage to this Commonwealth, June 28 of each year is set aside to commemorate the Pennsylvania German, commonly known as Pennsylvania Dutch, and is hereby designated to be “Pennsylvania German Day.”

The Governor is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation each year calling upon the people of the Commonwealth to commemorate the contributions of the German people to the history and culture of the Commonwealth, and to approve that day with appropriate honors and ceremonies.

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Copy of the 1862 Taufschein of Mary Elisabeth Herman, daughter of Private William Herman, 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers (U.S. Civil War Widows’ and Orphans’ Pension Files, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, public domain; click to enlarge).

That act carries special meaning for all who are involved with 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers: One Civil War Regiment’s Story because a significant portion of the men who served with the 47th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War were men and boys of German heritage, including:

• Major William Gausler, the regiment’s third-in-command;
• Captains John Joseph Goebel, Richard A. Graeffe, Thomas B. Leisenring, Edwin G. Minnich, and George Junker, the latter of whom founded the 47th Pennsylvania’s “all-German company” (Company K);
• Quartermasters William H. Ginkinger and Francis Z. Heebner;
• Drum Major Daniel Dachrodt, the last surviving member of the regiment;
• Drummer Boy Alfred Eisenbraun, the second member of the regiment to die and a son of noted Frakturist Johann Daniel Eisenbraun;
• The Baltozer Brothers, two of whom were teachers, as was Second Lieutenant Alfred Swoyer;
• Businessmen Samuel S. Auchumuty, Luther Peter Bernheisel and Augustus Eagle;
• The Schwenzer brothers, one of whom became a renowned Frakturist and the other, a longtime member of the Allentown Band;
• Inventors Daniel K. Reeder and Abraham N. Wolf;
• Luzerne County government official Conrad Volkenand;
• Photographers Jerome Bryner and William H. Burger; and
• Surgeons William F. Reiber and Jacob Henry Scheetz.

Read their stories. Remember their names. Honor the sacrifices they made for the United States of America and the world.

Sources: 

1. “Act No. 113 of 1976: Pennsylvania German Day — Observance.” Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania General Assembly, June 29, 1976 (retrieved online June 28, 2025).
2. Civil War Veterans’ Card File, 1861-1866 (47th Pennsylvania Infantry). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State Archives.
3. Moyer, Del-Louise. “John Daniel Eisenbrown: Fraktur Artist and Grave Monument Engraver.” Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: AlyssumArts, September 7, 2015.
4. U.S. Civil War Pension Files. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.