HOPE
Can you imagine traveling by boat (in steerage, the inferior accommodations for passengers paying lowest fares) from your homeland in Poland, across the Atlantic ocean, to America, in 1865?
The desire to start a new life in America must have been so incredibly strong. Just think about what our ancestors had to endure in order to make a better life for themselves. And for their children. And their children...
I would like to take this moment right now to thank my Great Great Great Grandparents for their bravery.
I think of all of the steps of their journey they had to conquer in order to get to their final destination of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. There, they would find opportunity. Religious freedom. Hope for the future.
I have visited Ellis Island, New York City, twice. The last time was in 2007. I remember my other two visits, walking around Ellis Island. I felt I could almost hear the faint whispers of those who went through it's doors.
Even though many spoke different languages and were from different countries, there was one thing they all understood. A smile. And Hope.