One only has to count the crowds that flock to Mount Vernon and Monticello to see the popularity of these historical monuments. Now there is before us legislation to create a national monument out of what could be perhaps described as the birthplace of millions of Americans. many of whom later became famous. I refer. of course. to Ellis Island. the first American soil millions of immigrants touched on their way to becoming American citizens. We are a nation of immigrants and foreign peoples have contributed everything to our present greatness. I do not believe that there are any of us who can go back many generations without finding a relative coming from a foreign land. Many tend to forget that even those who came over on the Mayflower were immigrants in every sense of the word. I feel that there is a great and pressing need to develop Ellis Island into a beautiful and inspiring monument to those who have contributed so much in coming to America to live. In urging the Congress to authorize appropriations to develop Ellis Island as an adjunct to the Statue of Liberty National Monument. I am not motivated by regional or parochial interests. I sincerely believe that the enhancement of the Island as a national monument will be viewed by all Americans as an appropriate and fitting memorial to the millions of immigrants who cleared through the immigration station during the 62 years It was located there. President Johnson has recently predicted that the island would make a handsome shrine. I concur with the President.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrants