Because it is Day Without Immigrants, and because I heard on the radio a few minutes ago reference to President Barack Obama's 2012 executive action that protected people who came to the United States as children (DACA--Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and President Donald Trump's promise to terminate such protections, I was inspired to publish this picture of my paternal grandfather as a young man. He was the last of my immigrant ancestors to come to the United States from the Netherlands, brought here by his parents as a babe in arms in 1890.
Love the Day Without Immigrants concept, and love tbe picture of your grandfather. Handsome man!
ReplyDeleteMy great Grandfather made his way here from Sicily around the turn of the century (With-Out Papers...a true WOP!) NYC was already overcrowded and work was tough to find so he started selling fruit and vegtables door to door in Stamford CT from a cart. He eventually did so well he became a citzen, bought some land, and an old rundown hotel that wemt with it on the waterfront. Slowly he brought over the rest of his family, and the Trantanellas took hold in America. The waterfront in Stamford became a business hub, and huge companies sprang up around the hotel (like Clairol, Pintney Bowes, etc.) till it was the only residential property in the area. My great grandmother never spoke english, and held onto the property till she died. My great aunt Marie (keeper of all the old recepies) ended up never marrying as was the role of the youngest daughter back then to take care of Mom. She had a keen business sense, and ended up as executive secretary to the CEO of Pintney Bowes in the 60's. When her mother died, Marie negotiated the family farm and hotel surrounded by Pintney Bowes sale. There was enuf money to build homes in the now fashionable and high priced real estate area of North Stamford where many celebreties live for all 11 children. 11 homes! My dad went to private school, and graduated from MIT with honors and an MBA. He went on to become Vice President of Wang Labratories, and eventually own his own manufacturing company designing and completely american building the first fast food electronic cash registers in the early 70's. His siblings were all as successful.
Immagrants matter, and become vibrant gifted assets to our economy and country. I am proud of my heritage, and the amazing oppoortunities this country brought our family...and me. We are just one of the american dream-come-true opportunity success stories. We can't loose this fabric of our country and constitution.
Sixty years of ever increasing welfare benefits are making open immigration an impossibility.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story, Unknown/descendant of Trantanellas. Fascinating and wonderful.
ReplyDelete