I grew up in San Diego surrounded by the Navy and the Marines. My parents taught me that this is a good and noble nation and the public schools back when I was a kid reinforced this. Bruce is from Boston and he grew up on the streets that were home to many of our founding fathers. Even with our high-on-America belief system we weren't prepared to cry when we met Don Dzekciorius at the Statue of Liberty.
Don is a first generation American who told us about how his mother kept him and his brothers safe by following in the path of American soldiers as they liberated Europe from Hitler's grim grip. Don's family traveled at night and for nearly three years they lived in constant fear. Their goal was to get to America and they finally did.
Americans died so that Don could live and he tries to say thank you everyday. As an immigrant to this country, he believes in and epitomizes the American dream in this great land of opportunity. This one free and happy man has created hundreds of jobs and generated millions in sales over the 25 years he's been in business in Albany, New York.
We offer up a salute to our veterans today and to the troops who are saving and protecting the good people of the world.
