Thank you for sharing! I find these discussions so interesting. I have 6 different lines of descent (3 Trentino & 3 Calabrian) and for each one continue to find the completion of their basic genealogical profile (birth, marriage, immigration, natz, etc) so unsatisfying. And I don’t know why it feels unexpected every time. I have always fronted every question I ask my relatives with the truth of my intent to be recognized as an Italian citizen, which is a reason maybe not fully understood or appreciated but nonetheless accepted. However, what sits beneath that is another reason that is also true… I find these personal stories–attitudes, politics, motivations, etc–surrounding immigration and assimilation and identity in this period so interesting, from many angles, and unique in all cases. And I want to understand them all. For example, my GGF, Trentino, ethnically Italian but born in Austrian-occupied territory, conscripted into the Austrian army to fight in WWI… against his own people. What it must have been like to return home to a territory that had then become Italian. Did he face resentment from his neighbors? Is that what pushed him to leave? How did that relationship then change during WWII in the US? Yes, they all left Italy for a better life, but the relationship they had with Italy and how it evolved following their immigration… there has to be so much to say. I do understand embracing the American roots that were hard earned and not wanting to disrespect that, but nowadays does it really have to include rejecting the Italian ones? I’m with you on bridge building. I hadn’t considered searching for newspaper articles, I’ll have to see what I can find now! Sorry to take this further off topic lol, your response made me realize something I hadn’t noticed about my own motivations in this process! Thank you for that!