Remembering I Am an American Day
In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation designating the third Sunday in May as “I am an American Day.” It was designed to celebrate new citizens, born and naturalized. In 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed legislation renaming the event “Citizenship Day” with the observance moved to September 17, the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution in 1787.
In New York, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia announced that I am an American Day would be held in Central Park and that it would include an uplifting program. Naturalized New Yorkers received invitations by mail.
My father, recently naturalized, took me, then a little boy, to Central Park to attend the event. On the subway ride to Central Park he asked me questions about the United States, knowing the answers he proudly learned through his successful completion of the citizenship exam.
“What form of government do we have?” Dr. Baer asked. “A democracy,” I answered. “Wrong. We are a republic.”
We arrived at Central Park early (he was a German) and got good seats. I stood to recite the pledge of allegiance and sang the National Anthem. I don’t remember much about the program except for the appearance of Fiorello, the most entertaining politician of my lifetime.. All I remember is how proud I was to be an American.
AsI grew older, my pride at being an American was enhanced by my knowledge that coming to America saved my life. From the date of my birth in Frankfurt I was marked for death because of my religion.
I think of this now as America is descending into the depths of authoritarianism, to the end of many civil liberties, to hatred and division, to the inaction of our elected federal legislators to stem this foul tide.
I do not attribute this deterioration to one person. He has had a lot of help.
And yet, I retain an optimistic outlook. An election this year may prove to be the beginning of the end of what we are now experiencing.
I think of I am an American Day because without America I would not exist.
The pride I felt that day in Central Park is with me still.
May it always be so.