On the 4th of July (Independence Day), many Americans think of  Baseball, Hot Dogs, and Apple Pie. They have barbecues, set off fireworks, and consume large amounts of beer. I think of the good fortune of United States citizenship.

I didn’t have to acquire mine. I had the good fortune of being born in New York City. My parents, on the other hand, both made the trip from Europe.

My dad, Martin Ebon, made the edgy move from Hamburg, Germany in 1938, moving the rest of his immediate family, shortly there after. My mother, Koutsie Ebon, met my dad in her native Athens, Greece, in 1948. They married in 1949, and returned with him to New York City.

Both of them became naturalized citizens the old fashioned way. They came here legally, applied for citizenship, and completed the process. From a very early age, through high school, I traveled with them, over much of Europe. I came to believe that many people born into United States citizenship didn’t have a full appreciation of the good fortune of being born here.

Over time, I have come to appreciate both the variety of cultures and countries around the world, and the regional individuality of states and cities across the United States. I have only South Dakota to visit to complete my travel to all fifty states.

Enjoy today and if you are a United States citizen, pause awhile to think about how lucky we are.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog

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