11/02/2025
Grandson of a imigrant, I am..
I carry on the legacy of my Italian and Irish grandparents.
I was closest to my Italian grandparents who lived in Little Italy in Spokane, Washington.
They bravely immigrated to the United States, worked hard, and contributed to their community. My mother and I lived with my grandparents while my Dad served in Korea.
My Grandpa's journey began from working in the mines in Idaho serving the WWII effort to becoming a switchman for the Great Northern Railroad.
He and others like him learned English, raised families, bought homes, paid taxes and yes, they became US citizens too!
I was deeply influenced by the stories of resilience and determination of the old timers.
He and many other Italians are testament to their power of hard work and perseverance.
Their experiences remind me that our heritage and DNA are woven from the threads of immigration, and that almost all of us are the proud descendants of individuals who dared to dream of a better life. Despite their fears of being sent to internment camps during WWII.
What does your heritage mean to you during these times of profound change?
I am the proud Grandson, I am!