Whether we realize it or not, family is an essential part of our lives. But family doesn’t just mean those that are related by blood. It can also include our close friends, and other important role models in our life.
Looking back, I feel lucky to have had as close of a relationship with my grandparents as I did. My dad’s parents lived a mile away from our house, so naturally, I was always over at their house after school, or when my parents needed a babysitter. As I got older, I was able to ride my bike or walk to and from their house.
My mom’s parents have lived in Southern California since they immigrated to the United States in the 1950s. My family has traveled there regularly to visit them and other relatives, but they also made their fair share of trips to the Bay Area in their earlier days.
But what a lot of people may not know about my family is that all four of my grandparents immigrated to the United States – three from Hong Kong and one from Winnipeg – during and after World War II and the Korean War.
My grandparents shared many of these stories with me through the years, but the one that sticks out to me is Papa Art’s service in the U.S. Air Force, despite being born and raised in Winnipeg.
He moved to the United States in 1949, just after the end of WWII. Meanwhile, his two older brothers had already immigrated and were serving in the Air Force. Art wanted to serve as well, and did – only to be initially rejected due to not being a citizen and his other brothers already serving. For context, there was a rule in place at the time that did not allow all children of one family to serve at the same time.
Not long after, he was allowed to enlist in the Air Force, which would grant him citizenship at the completion of his four years. So, he served at the Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, where he was stationed for the duration of his service. He concurrently completed his undergraduate degree in engineering from the University of Colorado.
While I didn’t hear about these stories often from him, his perseverance and calm demeanor through the process have inspired me to push through the adversity I’ve experienced with my hearing issues.
I am deaf and hard of hearing. Completely deaf in my left ear and hard of hearing in my right. Social settings and making friends have never been easy for me, and still aren’t. I was teased a lot for it as a kid, but having someone like my grandpa (and all my family, for that matter) has helped me overcome some of the fears I faced as a kid.
Grandpa always tried to see the good in people, and also wasn’t the most outgoing person. In recent conversations with my mom, she said she sees some of the same similarities in me, which I hadn’t even realized.
February 18 will mark the 10-year anniversary of his passing, but I know he’s proud of how I’ve carried his legacy. My mom and I have taken my grandma to his gravesite many times over the last decade, and often, around his birthday, the holidays, and Veteran’s Day.
His service is one of the main reasons I have a strong appreciation for our military. And I’ve strived to carry his legacy in my everyday life, whether it’s wearing military green while umpiring on Veteran’s Day or his birthday, wearing one of his ties on air, or eating at his favorite restaurants whenever I am in LA.
Thank you for inspiring me, Grandpa. We miss you every day.
