By Jason Williams
Oregon250.com
Website dedicated to celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

Please write 2 to 3 sentences on why you are grateful to be an American.

You can submit your story or words of thanks to [email protected]

Here are past stories to inspire you:

Teacher across the world reflects on America’s blessing

“I am the youngest of seven. I grew up poor but my parents made sure we had the food and clothes we needed. I was first in my family to attend college. Four others followed me. I worked 35 hours a week in the dormitory kitchen while going to college full time. It was tough but possible. Upon graduation, I taught for 45 years in four states and five countries overseas. My experience proves that this is the land of opportunity. I indeed am proud to be an American.”

Patty Disbrow,
Yamhill

87-year old traveler grateful for America

“I am 87 years old and have read enough and travelled enough to recognize the precious freedom and opportunities available in the United States.”

Judith Black,
Portland

Yugoslavia experience made me appreciate America’s goodness

“In 1962, when I was 11 years old, my dad took our family with him to Yugoslavia, where he worked for 10 months for the U.S. Commerce Department. Helping improve their steel industry. I learned first-hand how blessed we are to live in the United States, the true land of freedom and opportunity.”

Pual H.
Portland

What I noticed when I came back from Europe

“When returning to the USA from living in Europe, one of the first things I noticed was the proud display of American flags. Not only on civic buildings, as is usual in European countries, but on homes, cars, displays of many kinds. All representing the honor we Americans feel to live in the greatest country in the world.”

—Priscilla W, Portland

From Italy to Oregon, a dream come true thanks to a fruit truck

“My Italian grandparents came through Ellis Island, leaving their homeland where there was little opportunity to own property or escape the life of working for a landlord. in Oregon, my grandfather started a fruit truck from scratch and drove around neighborhoods selling produce. That little fruit truck was his path to buying his first property… then a second… then he bought buildings. He exceeded his dreams beyond imagination, thanks to America.”

—Rosalie W, SE Portland

Om America we can all make it

“My dad grew up dirt poor from two alcoholic parents with all the odds stacked against him in life. He lied about his age to get into the Navy. Some of my earliest memories are of us living in a tiny trailer, with dad and pregnant mom sleeping on a single bed and me sleeping on a shelf. Between school and his evening job, Dad would stop at the city dump and recover whatever lumber he could find, to build our first house, a 20×24 single room. His amazing resourcefulness over the decades made him millions and a modern American Dream rags-to-riches story. In America we can achieve the impossible.”

—Gary C, Portland

Please share your “grateful to be an American” story for 250

87-year old traveler grateful for America

Yugoslavia experience made me appreciate America’s goodness

What I noticed when I came back from Europe

From Italy to Oregon, a dream come true thanks to a fruit truck

Om America we can all make it

Oregon Catalyst