August 22, 2007

John Lloyd Young Featured on ‘We Are Ellis Island’ Campaign

August 22nd, 2007

John Lloyd Young is featured on the We Are Ellis Island campaign website. JLY shares his story of how his great-grandfather traveled from Italy and landed on Ellis Island in the late 1800’s. Check out the amazing photo, video, and the story of JLY’s family!

8 Comments »

  1. This piece is very inspiring. JLY did a great job and looks really good in his blazer & sweater. It is such a great cause, we can all trace our families to Ellis Island, what a history it provides and is well worth saving. Hope John’s meesage inspires everyone to donate to such a great cause. Good job John.

    Comment by gail drouillard — August 23, 2007 @ 7:31 am

  2. How wonderful this is. I am so proud when I visit Ellis Island. I can feel the presence of my grandparents who came from Italy also for a better life in this country. I grew up in the house they lived in here in the US and my Dad & his brother were both born in the house and brought up there. So amazing & touching. Thank you JLY for being a part of this, it certainly is a tribute to those who came before us.

    Comment by Wanda — August 23, 2007 @ 8:40 am

  3. What a great tribute JLY has given to his ancestors!

    Comment by Pat — August 23, 2007 @ 1:30 pm

  4. What a truly heartwarming piece! My parents both emigrated from the Philippines and know all of the hardships that anyone coming from a different country has experienced in order to make a living and support a family.

    When I visited Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, I felt like I could experience what the previous generation had gone through, then felt that sense of pride like all of us do belong here because we all helped build this nation!

    I’m glad to see John Lloyd Young as one of the “ambassadors” for that benefit! The cause for keeping Ellis Island alive is something that we as Americans should consider giving aid to. Our past is something that should be cherished and remembered.

    Comment by Mike B. Magbaleta — August 23, 2007 @ 1:36 pm

  5. I loved this tribute to his ancestors. My father came to this country through Ellis Island to escape the Nazis in the late 1930′s. I am first generation to go to college, and graduate school. We have a plaque in the wall at Ellis Island as a tribute and listed on the ship manifest. I had chills reading JLY’s story. Gayle Kamen-Weinstein

    Comment by Gayle Kamen — August 23, 2007 @ 5:01 pm

  6. What a special tribute to his great grandfather…done with class as always.

    Comment by David Cace — August 26, 2007 @ 11:19 am

  7. John, thanks for your story. My mother emigrated from Poland in the 1920′s, but I’ve never visited Ellis Island or even entered this site until linking from your Blog to your story. I registered and in a matter of seconds, found my mother, the date she came over, the ship’s name, her place of departure, and her last residence in Poland. Indeed, I never even knew that her real birth name was “Sura”, which she Americanized to “Sarah”.

    Although not as young as you were, I lost my mom as a boy 40 years ago, and really never thought too much about my genealogy. John, I never would have dreamed you would have given me a gift in addition to the pleasure of watching you perform in “Jersey Boys” 11 times. Tonight, you just did. Thank you.

    Comment by Howard Tucker — September 7, 2007 @ 11:53 pm

  8. growning up in the Bronx 36 years never visited ELLIS Island went to school in the city it wasn’t until I moved to Arizona and my grandmother died and after 911 made the trip back many times until 2 years ago it was finally time to go there and see the wall with NANA’ name just to walk around there and see all the different rooms, when I was done walking I went outside and stared at the water, thinking to myself how did all these people feel when they finally stepped off the boats how scared were they and how excited were they to be here in America. I remember my Nana telling me very few stories about her long trip here from Ireland.I am glad I finally went there with my sister,and my daughter and family looking forward to next summer when I will be in New York
    and will be able to see more of this beautiful Island. Scottsdale AZ, but always and forever a New Yorker from the Bronx………..PeggySue Perry

    Comment by PeggySue Perry — December 7, 2007 @ 4:17 pm

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