Yesterday Bruce Springsteen traveled to Ellis Island with his mother and aunts to be honored with an Ellis Island Family Heritage Award. The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. presents the award to immigrants and/or their descendants "who have made a major contribution to the American experience," and even though Bruce was Born in the U.S.A., his family roots are in Italy—his maternal great-grandmother, Raffaela Zerilli, arrived at Ellis Island on October 3rd, 1900.
At the ceremony Springsteen declared: "These fabulous women, they are my living connection to my heritage, to Ellis Island. They have personified for me the tough optimism and the work ethic of first-generation-born American citizens. You can't really know who you are and where you're going unless you know where you came from." Though surely The Boss can take care of the entire family now, his 87-year-old aunt still works as a hairdresser and his 67-year-old aunt is still available to help out with your taxes!
