Some wearing of the green.

 We recently passed another milestone on the calendar, a holy day for some of us of Irish heritage; good old St. Patty's Day!

My memories run very favorable as it was a celebration day in our family, at our school and community, one brimming with happiness for residents of Irish descent.

Our elementary school made it a big event, decorative school rooms all loaded with cardboard shamrocks and images of leprechauns with their pot-o-gold and everyone expected to show some wearing o' the green, even the Italian and Polish kids were Irish every March 17th.

Our school would have an evening program where all family members and friends were invited to attend.  A small auditorium packed with revelers invited to sing along as the students would take the stage doing assorted Irish skits, dancing the jig and singing Danny Boy.

I even got to sing along as a member of an Irish quartet belting out songs like Molly Malone, My Wild Irish Rose, Harrigan and our all time favorite Mrs. Murphy's Chowder (second favorite after Danny Boy. Having to say that to avoid being doxed by the Irish Community).

I often think back to my Irish ancestors wondering how difficult it must have been for them coming to America with all their hopes and dreams as the early generations struggled living in poverty, in shanty towns, working in the coal mines of Shenandoah and Tamaqua Pennsylvania knowing that dreams for their future generations would be better than what they experienced and giving their sons and daughters the hope to begin moving forward in a land that truly provided that opportunity.

As I age, I understand more of why my Irish mother would not denigrate her heritage but would insist that we think of ourselves as Americans first and foremost, and leave the past to rest because that is what she was taught by her ancestors.

These Immigrants believed that their future was in this promised land and we all needed to embrace flying the American flag proudly, perhaps displaying some green on St Pat's Day and singing the Nation Anthem loudly...and on the 17th maybe some Danny Boy.

Our ancestors believed in assimilation, working hard, learning the language and believing in contributing to the betterment of their new land.

Yes they wore and still wear some green of St Patty's Day, but the red, white and blue year round. 

Hopefully all immigrants do likewise.