I am sure a large majority of Americans have a family member, whether they are  distantly related or in his or her immediate family, who have served in some form of the Armed Forces. For example, my great grandfather fought for the U.S. during World War II. Consequently, after the Germans had been defeated and the U.S.’s forces were being withdrawn from Germany in September and October of 1945, my Great Grandfather acquired a German Luger off of a dead German soldier as he walked across the battlefield of all the fallen troops. In addition, the gun was manufactured in Germany during the early to mid nineteenth century, and was one of the primary guns given to all German soldiers during the the war. Equally important was the fact that the German Luger was one of the first semi-automatic pistols of its time, and was used by loading the gun with a full magazine, not requiring any reload between shots. My great grandfather passed away in 2001, and the gun was then passed to my grandmother´s twin brother and his sons. Consequently, this gun symbolizes my family's participation in America's history and the reality of what actually happened. With this reality, however, also lies the emphasis of the death and brutality that was rooted in the war, which is conveyed through the gun's origin and introduction into my family.

– Anthony Figaro

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more