Why I Love America: Reader Honors His Family’s Journey From Holland to the Promised Land

As the airplane landed in New York City, my family and I left behind our fatherland, the Netherlands. When the mainland came into view, we witnessed the Statue of Liberty welcoming us to America. That day, February 11, 1957, would dramatically change the course of our lives. A new language, culture, and opportunity were now the reality and challenge. We embraced our new family mission from day one: to assimilate into the American way of life.