As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, I’ve noticed a flood of new television documentaries about famous Americans. Presidents, generals, inventors, and other national icons fill our screens. Their accomplishments deserve to be remembered. But I’m choosing to celebrate someone who will never have a documentary made about him. My grandfather.
He came to America from the island of Sicily in 1910 as a young man with little more than hope for a better future. Like millions of immigrants who crossed the Atlantic during that era, he left behind poverty and uncertainty in search of opportunity. His story was not unique.
Millions of families arrived from Italy, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Mexico, and countless other nations believing that America offered something precious: the chance to build a better life. Many faced discrimination. Italians were often the target of insults and prejudice. Some immigrants even changed their names to sound more “American” in hopes of being accepted. Yet they persevered.
My grandfather was never wealthy or famous. He never held public office or made history books. Instead, he did something just as important. He worked hard, raised a family, and became part of the foundation on which this nation was built. When America called, he answered. He served our country during both World War I and World War II. His generation understood that freedom required sacrifice. They believed that democracy was worth defending. He wasn’t alone. My uncles also served in the military, as did millions of other Americans whose names we will never know. They didn’t seek recognition. They simply believed that serving their country was the right thing to do.
Whenever I drive past a cemetery, I’m reminded that America’s story is written not only in monuments and museums but also on simple gravestones. Beneath those stones rest teachers, factory workers, farmers, nurses, police officers, firefighters, business owners, mechanics, parents, grandparents, and veterans whose daily sacrifices built the nation we now enjoy. Most will never appear in documentaries. Most will never have books written about them. But without them, America would not exist as we know it.
As we celebrate 250 years of our nation’s history, I hope we remember that our country’s greatness has never depended solely on remarkable leaders. It has depended on millions of ordinary citizens who chose to work hard, raise families, serve their communities, defend freedom, and leave a better future for the next generation.
Every family has stories worth telling. Perhaps your ancestors crossed an ocean. Perhaps they crossed a border. Perhaps they served in uniform, worked the land, opened a small business, taught children, or quietly volunteered in their community. Whatever their story, they helped write the American story.
As we celebrate America’s 250th, let’s celebrate them too. Take out an old family photograph. Visit a cemetery. Ask an older relative about the people who came before you. Share those stories with your children and grandchildren. Our nation has always been strengthened by ordinary people doing extraordinary things—not for fame, but for family, community, and country.
The greatest Americans may never have had documentaries made about them. But without them, there would be no America worth celebrating.
Rick LoBello has been a conservation educator since 1972. He has served as the education and conservation curator and program manager at the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens since 2002.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: OPINION: America’s greatest heroes never had documentaries made about them
Reporting by El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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By El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
