I will start this blog off with my most recent filmed interview. This is actually two interviews combined into one video. This was aired as part of NEMO Unified Immigration Day festivities on May 1.
The first couple you meet are Heinz and Mary Lou. Heinz immigrated to the United States with his mother when he was just 8 ½ years old. They were fleeing post-war Germany and seeking a better life in the states. Although he arrived here speaking and understanding only German, Heinz eventually received his doctorate degree in Old and Middle English, served as Division Head and Dean of Language and Literature at Truman State University, and capped off his career as a Vice President at ATSU. As Heinz says, "This country has given me tremendous opportunities all along starting in 1953 when my mother and I immigrated to the United States to Milford, Connecticut from Elmshorn, Germany."
Mary Lou is a 3rd generation American with both sets of grandparents immigrating to the United States from Italy. She grew up in a diverse community in Pittsburgh and never thought she would find herself living in a small midwestern town. But in much the same way that her ancestors sought opportunity in the United States, Mary Lou found herself moving to Kirksville in order to make a better life for her children. It was here that she and Heinz met and married and forged a new life together, raising their family and becoming embedded in the community.
It was my honor to speak with them and I could have listened to their stories for hours.
The second couple are my own dear Mama and Daddy. Although our family immigrated to the United States back in 1652, they provide a viewpoint on how small our world really is and the opportunities we have to spread good will abroad and in our own country. Through the sharing of stories of people they have encountered throughout their lives, they highlight the power of getting to know people who are different from us and seeking to understand one another.
This video is 44 minutes long (22 minutes for each interview). I hope you enjoy it.
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| Mary Lou and Heinz |
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| MS Gripshorn - ship Heinz and his mother sailed on to United States |
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| Heinz and Mary Lou |
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| Looking at family photos with Heinz |
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| Daddy and Mama (the 2nd half of the video above) |
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