From: The New Colossus, by: Emma Lazarus.

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send them, the homeless, tempest-tost to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

These words are written on the Statue of Liberty which stands in New York Harbor. They point to the beacon of liberty and extend to the people of the world an invitation to come to a land of opportunity.

They came by the thousands from lands ravaged by famine, war, and religious and racial persecution. These people with few possessions, but full of initiative and courage became the nucleus of the country know as "the land of the free and the home of the brave." They came to worship God without fear and to freely pursue happiness. From everywhere they came and joined their individual fervor and zeal to produce this marvel of nations we now know as "America."

The same flame of freedom and opportunity still burns bright inviting the people of the world. The masses described in the invitation, with the blessings of God, came from their humble beginnings to build the free enterprise envy of the world and to eventually walk on the moon.

Is it not then reasonable that this golden door is still open to those with courage and dreams? From personal experience I can say that dreams are still being realized. I was born of parents that had just lost all material possessions in the "great depression" of the 1930’s, and were facing a World at War in the 1940’s. In spite of this I always felt rich. For the blessings and beauty of this country have been mine since 1939. After my years of education I started a business 38 years ago in 1960. I have enjoyed the personal satisfaction and the monetary rewards of this venture to this day. I am now contemplating selling this business to have the time to see and enjoy parts of this vast land to which I have never been. Therefore, I say to my cousins in England, the fire is lit, the door is ajar, and the fulfillment of your dreams still await.