FRIDAY

This is a simulated Immigration Board of Appeals proceeding. The young man in suspenders was denied entry into the United States because he had spent the $25 he was supposed to have when he got to Ellis Island. The reenactment took place in the real Ellis Island Appeal Room and members of the audience were recruited to be the Appeals Board. The young man was eloquent in his appeal and the Board granted him entrance into the United States. In the real situation that this simulation was based on, he did not gain entrance and was sent back to his country of origin.

After this reenactment, Nancy and I took the 90 minute audio tour and learned many interesting and fascinating facts about Ellis Island and the immigration process. We will share this information with you when we get back.

At the end of this day, Nancy and I spent about an hour, sitting at a table, outside Ellis Island, drinking cold drinks, and talking about what we had seen and experienced. It has been a warm, but overcast day, so the breeze off New York Harbor made it very comfortable. In the distance, we could see the Statue of Liberty. It has been an incredible day!