John LeBoutillier
Monday, July 30, 2001

Recently my nephew and niece came visiting from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to New York. My nephew asked to go sightseeing for his high school studies. He specifically wanted to visit the New York Stock Exchange, Ellis Island and, if we had a moment, Fraunce's Tavern.

So, on a beautiful July Friday morning off we went – to see the miracle known as the United States of America.

We parked down at the bottom of Manhattan Island and began walking to the NYSE interactive tour. Within one block of the Stock Exchange we saw Fraunce's Tavern – undergoing reconstruction to make it into a museum.

Fraunce's is famous because in 1783, General Washington – having pulled off one of the biggest miracles ever in human history by defeating the vastly better-equipped British war machine – said goodbye to his officers there as he prepared to move on to civilian life, which would ultimately lead to the presidency.

The tavern is small, as were all buildings from that era, with low doorways and ceilings. The cobblestone sidewalk is still outside – and you could easily imagine the sound of horseshoes on them as the officers rode to this famous meeting. And it is easy to 'hear' still the joviality of the celebration – and the awe that the tall and stately general must have inspired in his men.

Just up the street is the ultra-modern New York Stock Exchange. Visitors on the hourly tour are lined up a block away in a double-file line and then escorted through meticulous security into the world's most famous financial institution. We noticed that the tourists were from everywhere: England, France, Israel, Germany, Japan, etc.

The NYSE is a very, very impressive technological location. The narrator tells you that the main trading floor – which we have all seen on television – is the second-most "advanced and computerized room in the world – after NASA's Mission Control." Indeed, the wires, computer screens, tubes and cell phones make the place look like it's from the future.

The tour tries to explain to a dummy like me the 'how' and the 'who' of consummating trades on the floor. But even if it's all somewhat murky, one thing is clear: This is capitalism working at its best. And it is the way so many, many people of all backgrounds have made money.

Our final stop was to take the ferry over to Ellis Island. What a place! Here, from 1892 to 1924, millions of immigrants arrived to be processed before being allowed to live in the United States.

The pictures, the exhibits, the tour guides are all wonderful.

You must visit it yourself to get a feel for what it must have been like. But here are a few observations: The poor immigrants arriving here at Ellis Island brought with them The American Spirit – that undaunted belief in the opportunity provided by General Washington and the other Founding Fathers who created our nation.

The Ellis Island immigrants brought with them a work ethic, a faith and a desire to make for themselves a better life.

In one of the exhibits at Ellis Island there is a room full of pictures and text about the volunteer groups in the early 1900s who assisted these immigrants with housing, language training and job skills. Single women were provided rooms in special buildings. Orphans were taken care of. Churches were very active in taking in these new arrivals.

The point is: American citizens wanted to help these new Americans. Government did not do anything to help them! And yet they all were assimilated – and built the nation into the powerhouse it is today.

From Fraunce's Tavern – where the brave officers who won our freedom celebrated with their leader – to Ellis Island – where these brave New Americans arrived and set out to build a new life without government handouts – to the New York Stock Exchange – where the grandchildren of those very immigrants can achieve their financial dreams – all within one mile of each other!

All three of these historic locations are a testament to The American Spirit – a unique legacy we all should cherish and vow to protect.

We all are inheritors and protectors of that unique gift. We have a duty to keep it alive – and to ward off the temptations to weaken or destroy it.

Whenever you have doubts about the future of our nation, take the same tour we did: See Fraunce's Tavern, take the NYSE tour, and visit Ellis Island.

You will come away inspired about the past – and the future – of our wonderful nation.