In my father’s time If I could, could I have
Survived the stigma, endured the poverty, adapted to the changing culture of America, waging war in my country of birth. With all my education, medical responsibilities, years of military service, could I have survived the depression, fear, loneliness, poverty and the contradictions of war . My father before me is a story of inner strength in silence. Immigrant status of the 1920s was a far cry from today’s standard of protected rights and social assistance. Human rights were simply not starving to death. The unwritten immigrant rule of the early 20th century was to maintain a low profile; your pride is secondary to your need to survive. My father was a quiet man, a man of simple stories of a happy childhood, which he would only share after much persuasion. Short stories of the Great Depression as poor immigrant were sprinkled with tears and shame. Stories that were only delivered as lessons learned, not for compassion or sympathy but for survival skills. The New Land with the New Deal. President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated “The principles on which this country was founded and by which is has always been governed is that Americanism is a matter of mind and heart. Americanism is not and never was a matter of race or ancestry”. To many Italian immigrants coming to Williamsport, Pa or any American city, this was the change of a new beginning. La Nuova Bella Nazione, My beautiful new nation was not to be limited by a matter of race religion or linage, but one of education and opportunity . But what was the price of losing your ancestry. You are now becoming a small piece of iron ore in the blast furnace called the United States of America. As President Roosevelt inspired nationalism and justice, another inspiring leader (Benito Mussolini) stimulated nationalism and heritage by stating “ if one has no idea of his past, then he has no idea of his future” or “better to live a day as a lion than 100 years as a lamb”. Dad would often say “We left the land of Benito Mussolini, the land of sunny warm mornings, of olive tree groves, of chestnut orchards for the land of unknowns”. Could I have been as brave, as flexible, as he was? Today’s dedication and sacrifice was given as an invested for a future dividend not for him but for his family of years to come. One major illness, one lost opportunity could derail the future of many immigrant families. “La famiglia e sempre primo”, the family is always first in all his actions, thoughts and inspirations. Could I have been so unselfish, so devoted, so focused? America offered much and asked simply for your willingness to respect the laws of the land. But the winds of war and the class of 1941 from Williamsport High were asked for a bit more than lawfulness and respect. In my father’s case, they were asked for the willingness to sacrifice their lives and to kill and destroy their country of origin. La Bella Italia (beautiful Italy), the land of battle from 1942 to 1945. Up the bloody boot was the famous title of the Italian campaign where over 250,000 Italian civilians became casualties of war. There existed the constant contradiction of the new country of America versus the country of ancestry and childhood memories. My father’s dedication was to America, a land he believed in, a land of hope, justice, opportunity and freedom. Could I have made such an unselfish choice, could I have been able to withstand the ironies of war? Starving children, carpet bombing and unlimited destruction.
Allow us all to dedicate this day not to the what ifs but to the many who did.
Dedicated to my dad Corporal Monetti Sammarco Class of 1941 Williamsport High School 338th Combat Engineers – Fifth Army He truly loved America. I’m just a boy scout compared to him. Lt Colonel Domenic Sammarco, USAR, Retired
