Greetings!
Independence Day, the fourth of July, is fast approaching. We celebrate a group of men, of that time, taking a risk to create what is now known as the American Experience. In between the bar-be-que and the fireworks, we should reflect on what America means to us.
As son and daughter of immigrant fathers, Carole and I have a deep appreciation for America. My father left Germany in 1937 to join 3 brothers and a sister in the New York Metropolitan area. As a recent �migr�, the F.B.I. removed him from his apartment at 3 a.m. one morning and placed him in an internment camp in the Dakota badlands. Did this prejudice his view of America? .....Many years later, while emptying his house after he had passed away, I saw a message he wrote for a German singing chorus journal. On the dedication page he wrote " Thanks to this great country of ours. A country that allows us the freedom to sing the songs of our motherland; a motherland we willingly left to make a life here".
Carole's father, being younger wasn't as fortunate as mine. He, as a German soldier, was embroiled in the action on the Russian front in the waning days of the war . At the surrender, he was held as a prisoner by the Russians. Helmut heard through the grapevine that the American line was near, so one night he gathered a group and escaped, running so as to be captured by the Americans. You see, the American experience was an ideal even a young soldier could understand. After the war, he decided to come to America with his pregnant wife. Upon arriving in New York, the ship's crew thought they were stow-aways, since they never saw them at dinner. Helmut knew the seasickness was going to be a small sacrifice for the opportunities that lie ahead.
Both our fathers rapidly became citizens and were always acutely aware of what was going on around them. Did they have opinions on what was happening? You bet they did!
I do remember asking each one if they ever regretted leaving their homeland. Each said the same thing. " Never, not for a second. As a matter of fact, I thank God for helping me make the decision to come here".
What does America mean to you?
Reinwald's bakery is open until 3 P.M. on July 4th. Come in for fresh bread and rolls and while firecrackers are illegal, our firecracker cake is not only legal but delicious. My new favorite is our featured Patriot pie, a delightful blend of white apples, blueberries and red raspberries. Perfect for outdoor serving.
Please enjoy your days and God Bless America,
Sincerely, Rich Reinwald Reinwald's Bakery
|