ELLIS ISLAND . . ..The island is a symbol of hope and tears. Two percent of the people who arrived there were sent back to their homelands and that had to be heart-breaking after such a journey. But the other 98% had physicals and questionings that seemed very degrading to me. At first I only felt their despair as I walked about the great hallways and smaller officeways. But, the tour really gave me a deeper respect for those immigrants who were brave enough to risk everything and leave everyone to come to America. And, eventually, I felt more pride for them since my own ancestors were among those who passed by the shadow of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

There are interesting exhibits and informative guides, but my favorite part of the Ellis Island experience was the play Liberty Dance. It gave insight into what life might have been like for those who left their homelands to begin anew.

MAR