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YourHub.com \\ Jensen Beach \\ Stories \\ Holidays \\ Fourth of July

Born in America

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Contributed by: natalie evans on 6/30/2006

I was born here in America. I could have been born anywhere the world. And yet,by fate, I was the lucky recipient of American citizenship.

When I dig through my family tree and see where my ancestors came from, each has an individual life story. They came from France, Holland, Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany,and even Barbados. They came with a hope for a new country. A hope for a piece of land, perhaps. A free home of their own. Some left their own country because of poverty, famine or religious persecution. Maybe some came for the adventure of it all. But they risked their lives, many times leaving the comfort of their extended family,to cross the ocean and come to a new land.

Since those ancestors first came to America, more recent ancestors have fought for America's freedoms. There is my great-great grandfather, Thomas West, born 1822, who fought in the Civil War in 1863, fighting to defend the Union and preserve the unity of the states. A great-great uncle, David Amey, born 1897, who fought in World War I and came back "shell-shocked", and found he could not function any longer in the real world. His daughter grew up without the influence and presence of her father. "Dorothy" is 80 years old today and still remembers. There is my great-uncle, Harry Brillhart, born 1919. He fought in World War II, was bayoneted by the Germans and ended up in a prisoner of war camp in Germany. His mother died while he was a POW and he didn't find out until he returned home to the states. Each of these men fought for the freedoms I have today.Their sacrifices were great. It is estimated that for every Civil War soldier who died during the Civil War, that approximately 500 descendants would never be; meaning that they would never be born, or live, or die. They had no legacy to leave behind... or did they? They are remembered today for their valiant efforts; for their blood, sweat and tears. For as we teach history to our children and the generations after, we teach them that there was great sacrifice to live in this free country.

The beauty of America is that we all have freedom of choice. Most Americans choose to be givers and not takers. Most Americans choose to forgive, but we won't forget the sacrifices made. We choose to worship and we can choose to say, "In God We Trust", and not fear retaliation from the government in which we reside. You can come to America and gain education. You can come and truly become anything you wish to be, with hard work and blessing. You can come from a foreign land and be welcomed as an American.

I have traveled to a few countries and found poverty. And I was able to leave those countries for the safety of my own country in America. Here in America, there is plenty. Plenty of opportunities and plenty of food. We have cleanliness and ability to drink pure water, without fear of sickness. In distant lands and in distant countries, many times there is no escape. As Americans, wehave our passports and we have the ability to go safely back to our homes. Even as we sometimes encounter poverty here in America, there is always a way out. It does not have to be hopeless.

I am proud to be an American. Proud of our stars and stripes. But mostly, I am grateful. Grateful to live in a country that embraces the"tired,the poor,the huddled masses yearning to breathe free"...

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