by Barbara Nevins Taylor

In New York City we celebrate the Fourth of July and the 250 anniversary of American independence with a true understanding of what it means to be American. Many of our ancestors, like today’s immigrants, came here as Emma Lazarus wrote in her poem The New Collossus, “…yearning to breathe free.” 

My grandparents were children when their parents led them across Europe to boats in the Baltic headed for America. They fled the Russian Tsar, the Cossocks and other real monsters who  tore through their villages in Poland, Belarus, Romania and Ukraine randomly killing people, or painting marks on their backs. 

They sailed into New York Harbor and struggled with the hardships that come to those who arrive  poor and with few resources.  But instantly they understood and felt freedom from their worst fears. Their parents found work as merchants, blacksmiths and peddlers collecting and selling rags,

The children, younger than ten  went to work almost immediately in factories. Miraculously, they learned more than how to survive. They worked hard, married young, built businesses, had children and thrived even during the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Their sons went to fight for the United States against the Nazi’s in Europe and the Japanese in the Pacific. Their daughters received the educations they themselves were denied and went on to become a teacher, an artist, a garment center star. Their grandchildren grew into admirable people. Another generation of children came along, and another. Many us of live in different parts of the country.  Our professions and lifestyles differ.  But we all understand our good fortune, and believe in the promise of America,  education, honesty and the certainty that here you can become the best you, you can be.

It was all because in 1898, 1901, 1905 America welcomed four sets of immigrant families eager to start over. We celebrate.  We thank you America.