Prof. Dr. Dipl.-Ing Jesco Freiherr von Puttkamer has had an outstanding career as a pioneer and strong advocate for Human Space Flight. He joined the US Space Agency 46 years ago, shortly after its inception, and is presently a Program Manager at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC in the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD). 

      Jesco von Puttkamer came to the US in mid-1962 at the personal invitation of Dr. Wernher von Braun joining Wernher von Braun’s NASA Rocket Team in Huntsville, Alabama. He became an engineer on the APOLLO Lunar Landing program starting his career as a member of the SATURN rocket development team at the Aero-Astrodynamics Laboratory.

      In 1997 – 98 von Puttkamer was the focal point at NASA Headquarters for the International Space Shuttle (ISS) program’s Phase I with Russia. Dr. von Puttkamer has received many Awards for his contributions to the SATURN V launch vehicle, APOLLO and SKYLAB Program, among others. In 2004 he received NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal and in 2007 a Distinguished NASA Honor Award for successful initiatives of advancing American-Russian cooperation in Space Flight.  For more, click here.

      Wilma L. Schmidt, our largest benefactor died at the Attleboro Rehab Center in Langhorne, PA at the age of 90. During a visit, she stated: “Mr. Deichmann I really want to see the German-American Heritage Center established in Washington.” She was a philanthropist who offered generous financial support to other project as well.

      Wilma Schmidt was born in Göttingen, Germany in a house just behind the University of Göttingen. From 1936 to 1950 she lived in Berlin where she was employed as a lab technician. She came to the US after World War II in 1950. Wilma met her husband Joseph A. Schmidt at the Yardville, NJ Liederkranz. She lived in Yardville for 46 years before retiring to Attleboro Village in Langhorne, PA. She was retired from Carter-Wallace as a lab technician and for many years after retirement served as a volunteer at the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton, NJ. 

      Wilma and Joseph Schmidt owned a pest control business with over 1000 customers in the Princeton - Trenton, NJ and Yardley, PA areas. This business is now owned by her cousin Ulrich and his wife Connie Blumenthal.

      The Exhibit Hall of the German-American Heritage Center of the USA will be named the WILMA L. SCHMIDT EXHIBIT HALL as discussed and promised to her.

Gerald Kainz has been instrumental in supporting and promoting German-American and Austrian-American communities and organization for over 40 years in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC through his German language newspaper, the Washington Journal.

Mr. Maier was among the founders of the New Jersey German Heritage Festival and was the Chairman of the German-American Steuben Parade Committee of New Jersey. He also served as an appointed member of the Ethnic Advisory Council to the Governor, and supported the language school in Union, New Jersey.

Through the recognition he receives in his career as an actor, Mr. Braeden has worked hard to maintain a friendly, open relationship between the Americans and Germans and a better image for German-Americans. Mr. Braeden starred in “The Young and the Restless,”  was named Best Actor at the Soap Opera Awards, and has appeared on Broadway in “The Great Outdoors” with Curt Juergens and Geraldine Page. He has starred in feature films and television movies with the likes of Marlon Brando, Burt Reynolds, Yul Brynner and Better Davis. He is an avid soccer player and played as a member of the Maccabees when the team won the 1972-73 National Soccer Championship.

Karl Ehmer started his first butcher shop in New York City in 1932. During the 40s he opened a larger manufacturing facility in Queens and by the 70s there were over 30 Karl Ehmer Quality Meat stores in Pennsylvania and Upstate New York. These stores are still in business and are run by his grandchildren.