The Connector: Edition 121

Jul 2nd, 2025 | The Connector

What a great country we live in. We wake up, brush our teeth, grab our coffee, and off to work we go. Some of us work in an office, and for some, the office is at home. But we have the freedom to work, to go to the store, buy supplies, and live our lives. But sometimes I think we take that for granted. Actually, I know we do.

My grandparents on both sides were immigrants. My father's dad came over on a boat in 1917 from Russia. He was only 20 years old when he and his brother ended up in Chester, PA. A year later, he went back (can you imagine?) and brought his wife back with him to start his family in the USA. I am sure you can relate; many of my friends' grandparents did the same thing, and hence America grew rapidly in the late 1920s with the influx of so many immigrants.

Today, when I drink my coffee on the deck, I think about what he must have gone through to make that journey, and not just once, but twice! The ships were so crowded, many would get sick, some wouldn't make the full journey, and I can't even fathom what the bathroom situation was like back then, let alone the smell. But these young men and women were determined to make a life for themselves and, more importantly, live freely and make something of themselves. They believed in America. They left their families and all they knew and made the trip because they knew there was more here in America. They had pride in their workmanship; they cared about each other with limited means. Everyone worked together to make things work.

Then, even getting off the ship and waiting in line to show your papers, and then just starting your life in a city that you know nothing about! Talk about grit and resilience and the amazing amount of courage.

My father was born in his house in Leiperville, PA (which is now called Crum Lynne). He only spoke Russian when he went to first grade, because that's all they spoke at home, and that's all he knew. He was the youngest of four kids, and their father never had them forget about how fortunate they were to be able to live in America. Looking back, it is probably one of the main reasons my dad joined the Navy as soon as he turned 18.

Every morning when we flip that light switch, turn on the tap for clean water, or simply speak our minds without fear, we're living the dream that brought my grandfather and millions like him across dangerous oceans. These weren't just journeys of miles, but leaps of faith into the unknown, fueled by an unwavering belief that America offered something precious: opportunity, safety, and freedom.

My grandfather's determination reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy today were earned through the sacrifices and determination of those who came before us. Every family has a story like mine, whether it's grandparents fleeing persecution, parents working multiple jobs to give their children better lives, or ancestors who fought to expand the very definition of who gets to call America home.

In our busy daily lives, it's easy to forget that the simple act of disagreeing with our government without fear, choosing our path in life, or helping a neighbor in need are privileges that billions around the world still dream of. When we complain about traffic on our way to jobs we choose, or debate which restaurant to visit for dinner, we're exercising freedoms that our ancestors could barely imagine.

This doesn't mean America is perfect.  My grandfather's generation and those that followed have worked tirelessly to make it better, more inclusive, and more just. But it does mean that we have something extraordinary: the foundation to build upon, the freedom to improve, and the responsibility to ensure that future generations inherit the same opportunities that brought my grandfather across those dangerous waters.

So tomorrow morning, and especially on July 4th, when I sip that coffee on my deck, I will take a moment to feel the connection, from that brave 20-year-old stepping off a crowded ship in 1917 to me, sitting peacefully in my own home, free to dream my dreams and the ability to own my own business. That's the true miracle of America: not that it's perfect, but that it's perfectible, one family story at a time.

Marcia Zaruba O'Connor

CEO & Founder

The O'Connor Group