Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier launched the campaign for his initiative "Der Ehrentag" (The Day of Honor) on Thursday. He said he wishes "to make this day into a really big holiday," Steinmeier said on Thursday at a press conference in Berlin. Under his patronage, the birthday of the Basic Law on May 23 is to be "honored and celebrated for the first time as a nationwide day of participation," Steinmeier said.
"The idea is: people come together all across Germany to do something together," the Federal President said. "Everyone is invited to participate." Associations and companies, citizens can organize their own non-profit participation actions and register them on www.ehrentag.de to invite others to participate.
At the campaign launch, according to the Federal Presidential Office, more than 2,000 actions are already planned nationwide. More than 450 cities and municipalities are supporting the day of participation.
The Federal President described his vision of the "Ehrentag" as follows: "Everyone pitches in - in the neighborhood or at some action that is good for the community." It is about "rolling up our sleeves together and simply and plainly getting started," Steinmeier said.
"In this way, we can have something like shared democratic basic experiences together as a society - namely the feeling of being able to make a difference ourselves, to change something ourselves." All suggestions are welcome: "Every action, no matter how small, shows the greatness of the idea."
Steinmeier has already identified several actions for himself. "I'm participating in the spring cleaning at a sports club," he said. "I'm spreading butter on bread rolls at a senior citizens' meeting. I'm helping the German Alpine Association with repairing hiking trails."
Starting Thursday, an advertising campaign is to draw citizens' attention to the "Ehrentag," the Federal Presidential Office announced. Through traditional and social media, advertising spots on radio and in cinemas, as well as outdoor advertising - made possible by sponsors - a broad public is to be called upon to participate in the Ehrentag.
May 23 has so far been observed in Germany as Constitution Day, because on this day in 1949 the Basic Law was proclaimed. With his initiative, Steinmeier aims, in his own words, "not for politics to celebrate the constitution, but for us to actually make the Basic Law, the blessings of democracy, freedom and the rule of law, a matter for the population."
An official public holiday on May 23 is not planned for the future either. This is also not necessary, Steinmeier said: "The mere declaration as a public holiday would contribute little or nothing, but rather it is more about the question: How do we celebrate this, and who celebrates it."
Steinmeier, who will leave office at the beginning of next year, expressed hope that the "Ehrentag" will have lasting permanence. He sees his task "as leaving something behind during the time when I have the opportunity to influence things, something that hopefully extends beyond the day," he said. He hopes that the "Ehrentag" will be so successful "that there is virtually an obligation to continue it."
More than 60 prominent figures are to promote the "Ehrentag" in the coming weeks. At the launch of the campaign on Thursday, former national football player Philipp Lahm was also present. He promoted volunteer engagement: "You benefit from it yourself too," Lahm said. "It gives meaning, it builds resilience, and it naturally also brings satisfaction."
The president of the social association VdK, Verena Bentele, said: "Such a day of honor is absolutely necessary and brings us a bit of light and sunshine into our hearts and into the world."
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