That song is taken from the T.V. show Gilligan's Island -- but that's not the story I'm about to tell. Instead, I'm going to tell the story of the many people who left their countries in the late 1800s and early 1900s to move to America. Many of these people came from Europe: countries such as Italy, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, England, and Ireland.

That time in history was a very hard time in those countries. There was not enough to eat. There was much fighting, and young boys were being taken from their families to become soldiers. Groups such as Armenians and Jews were being killed and driven from their homes.

Times were so hard that people were left with no choice: they had to get out. They left home and made the long, hard trip to the U.S., in the hope of finding better lives. Many did, but only after a hard struggle to travel to the U.S. and find a way to make a living in a new country.

Here is one immigrant's story about leaving home and coming to America.

"I came to know life here on this farm, me and my two sons. But after the government came to ask for the lives of my children, I decided that this was not the place I wanted to spend my last days, or make good plans for the future of my children. I quickly counted my money. Ahh! Just enough to make our escape. So we took the nearest horse to the nearest train to the nearest boat in order to make the journey to this strange and wonderful land I have heard so much about."

"My sons and I were crowded onto a ship, given nothing but a tin bowl and spoon. There is so much despair here, and yet so much hope. So many tears and sorrow, and yet so many smiles."

"Arrived at last! As the cold wind blows on my face, I look up at that green lady of Liberty. My thin wool jacket is not warm enough. Not long after we arrive at Ellis Island, my sons and I are deloused with harsh chemicals. Olga taught me some of the English that she learned so I knew just enough to talk with the immigration officers. The first question they ask is how much money I have! Many were sent home again, for they spent all their money just to get to America. I am heartbroken, but I step out on American soil and feel that I am home."

Kevin

Please email me at: kevin1@ustrek.org