The object would probably be a photograph of my father during World War II. He’s looking right at the camera. He was stationed in Luzon, the Philippines. Unfortunately, he died when I was eight years old, possibly from his heart being weakened from malaria. My father was decorated with a soldier’s medal of honor, which is the same honor that they gave to John F. Kennedy. The way I always tell the story is that Kennedy got a movie and a book, but my father got malaria. That picture has a lot of meaning.

Learn more: www.my-america.org 

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant