America is in Sight
Father Wasner ended Evening Vespers with the song, Vesper Hymn. His rich tenor voice sang this hymn with the beautiful lyrics about announcing the day is ending with its analogy to the water of the seas which burst upon the shores, only to retreat in safety as each day ends. These events cause the people to shout out in jubilation.
In the verse which followed, they heard Father Wasner sing about the chime of thousands of bells announcing the day has ended and the people are once again joyous.
He spoke to them. "My friends, the day is coming to a close. As God has promised, a new day will break as the sun rises in the east. And for us it's the beginning of fulfilling our destiny; the lives we were meant to live.
"I think Maria would tell you children that you need your sleep to awake early in anticipation of arriving in America soon."
It wasn't Maria who spoke it was Brigitta.
"Father's right. The sooner we get to sleep the quicker the morning will come. We should go to our quarters now!"
And Mike took charge. "Follow me."
The freight elevator had them to the next deck in less than a minute. No one needed to be told to go to their quarters. And Georg and Maria soon made the rounds of their quarters and kissed each child. They said goodnight to all the adults. All of whom were an anxious as the children to be arriving in America tomorrow.
The newlyweds talked about all that had taken place before they shared the marital bed. They slept soundly. They weren't the least bit surprised when they were awakened by children's voices in the passageway early the next morning. They also heard Mike's voice.
"You need to wait for your parents. And yes the chef is preparing breakfast."
In the marital room Maria spoke. "We should get dressed and rescue Mike."
"I suppose we should. I think we're both as excited as they are."
"I know I am, Georg."
Georg and Maria, as well as all the adults appeared at about the same time. They immediately heard Kurt.
"Can we go to the mess-hall now?"
Mike answered. "Follow me everyone."
There they found a breakfast similar to what had been served yesterday. And as soon as Father Wasner concluded grace, they began to eat. Even the adults were eating and not talking. When Mike saw they were finished, he stood to speak to them.
"Let's all go back to the map room and I'll tell you more about Philadelphia."
Once they were there, they eagerly took their seats and Mike began to speak.
"The war, now named, the Revolutionary War, with the British began in 1775. A patriot named Paul Revere rode through the towns and villages announcing, the British are coming. Actual fighting began in the northern colonies."
Mike pointed to the colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
He went on to tell them. "This war didn't end quickly. Sadly a lot of men died. But the colonists were determined to be free from British rule. General George Washington emerged to lead them to victory.
"At the second meeting of the Continental Congress, a document was written by Thomas Jefferson. This document was called the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776 they issued this document which declared the United States as an independent country from Britain. And the war received a new name, the Revolutionary War.
"The last battle was fought in Yorktown Virginia."
Mike pointed to it with his pointer. "It was here that General Cornwallis surrendered. That date was October 19, 1781. The treaty which officially ended the war was signed in Paris on Sept. 3, 1783.
"Philadelphia was designated its first Capital. And General Washington became it first President. Let's take a break and then I'll tell you more about the Philadelphia you'll see later today."
"Mike, did we hear you correctly? Are we really going to be in America today?"
"Yes, Louisa you are."
"We'll hurry, Mike. We're anxious to learn about where we will be living."
Adults and children all hurried. Within fifteen minutes everyone had taken a seat.
"You already know that the state of Pennsylvania has no coast line with the Atlantic Ocean. And that I told you the ship will travel up the Delaware River to reach the Port of Philadelphia.
"The ship will travel in a river which is a mixture of freshwater and saltwater. That mixture creates interesting and diverse plant and animal life. Scientists call this an estuary. Since its still summer its trees along its banks will still be green. You will also see various types of aquatic vegetation, grasses of all shades of green and leaf shapes and tall ones which look like big feathers. You may also get a glimpse of the birds which also live there. You might even see America's symbol, the Bald Eagle.
"This particular eagle was chosen because it is believed to exist only on this continent. It has a long life, great strength and majestic looks. And our founding fathers thought it represented freedom.
"The ship won't be near to the mouth of the Delaware River until after lunch. But the ship will pass close enough to America to see its land in about an hour. Let me show you where we are."
Mike again used his pointing stick. "This is a map of the part of the Western Hemisphere named North America."
Mike first pointed to a spot in the Atlantic Ocean. "This is approximately where we are right now."
And Louisa immediately spoke. "We're not far from land."
"You're correct. That land belongs to Canada. And the ship will travel very quickly south. I'm going to continue telling you about the land you will see once we are topside. You're in for a surprise."
Mike had barely stopped speaking before they were in line to go there. Georg and Maria were last.
Maria whispered. "I still can't believe where we are. God has blest us with safe travel."
"He certainly has." Georg concurred.
Mike once again used the freight elevator to take them there. Mike led them to a place where they could safely stand. He told them.
"The land you see in the distance is the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia. The ship will slowly turn towards the south. The next land mass you will see is also in Canada. And connected to what the Canadians call Nova Scotia is the first state in America, Maine.
The group stood almost mesmerized by seeing land; no one wanted to leave. And because Captain Davy was keeping the speed of his ship at the fastest speed he could maintain safely, the ship sailed this part of the ocean quickly.
And Mike told them. "What you are going to see next are four small American States."
No one grew tired or weary from standing. They kept their eyes looing in the direction the ship was moving. Mike was looking for them too.
And when they saw more land, the older children were ecstatic. They kept repeating. "I can't believe where we are."
Mike then told them. "If you think seeing those states was exciting, what you will see soon will make you almost jump for joy. Keep your eyes focused on the water in front of the ship."
Captain Davy had slowed the ship so they could have a good look at this object. No one on the ship could tell where the land in Canada ended and America began. But soon they would see one thing the entire group recognized. And the entire group seemed to say together.
"I see the Statue of Liberty."
And Mike recited the most famous part of the inscription found on its base.
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
"Those words are part of a sonnet which was written by Emma Lazarus. She was a Jewish immigrant whose family came to the United States long before the American Revolution. She, being from a family of modest wealth, became an advocate on behalf of poor Jewish refugees who began to come here after the end of the Great War.
"She wrote this sonnet to sell at an auction to raise money to build the pedestal for the statute. It took nine years for the government to settle on its design and then build it in its location in the harbor. And this sonnet is engraved in that base; not on the tablet of stone the Lady is holding. It has the date July 4, 1776; the date of the Declaration of Independence.
"There are stairs inside which people use to walk to its crown which has twenty-five windows. Maybe someday you might come here and have the opportunity to see the view from her crown. It's spectacular."
"Father, do you think we can?"
"Maybe someday, Louisa."
And no one could miss what they saw behind the Lady.
It was Maria who asked. "Are those buildings I see?"
"Yes and they are in the city named New York City."
"They must be mighty tall." Brigitta stated.
"Yes they are and the latest building the Empire State Building is now the tallest in the world."
Once the ship had passed this part of America, Captain Davy increased speed as the ship traveled south.
Mike told them. "New Jersey isn't very big. The ship should pass it in about four hours. Let's go back to the map room where I don't have to talk so loud."
The group was actually relieved to be sitting. They listened attentively to Mike.
"Philadelphia is a lot like New York City; it too has many tall buildings. They're mostly in the part of the city named Center City. Also there are the buildings used by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington plus many others who helped found our nation.
"The city also has family homes; they're all built in a row. They share a common wall. Most are two stories but some have three. There are churches and synagogues and many schools both public and private.
"And shops of all kinds are also there. Fresh produce is trucked in from the gardens of New Jersey every day."
"Father, are we going to be living in Philadelphia?"
"I don't know Liesl."
"Mike should we go back to our quarters and pack? Maria and I want to make sure nothing is left in their quarters."
"Good idea Georg. And after lunch you can watch the ship travel up the Delaware River to the Port of Philadelphia."
Everyone immediately followed Mike back to the freight elevator to return their quarters. Once they were packed and Mike escorted them to the mess-hall where an early lunch was waiting for them. It was a simple meal of a sandwich and fruit.
When they returned topside, the ship was making its turn into the mouth of the river. Captain Davy had already slowed the ship's speed. The group was able to see all the things Mike had described about this land named an esctuary.
They even saw an American Eagle. It flew rather close to the ship. Then watched it swoop down to the water and took a fish into its mighty claws and fly away with it.
Georg and Franz asked about the two fort complexes on the water's banks. And Mike told them.
"They were both needed during the Great War. This area had become a center for naval and merchant shipbuilding, munitions making, and other war goods. They were also the forts where soldiers gathered before being shipped out to Europe to join other armies.
And Georg commented. "Although everyone thought that was the war to end all wars, we now know that didn't happen. Out of Germany has risen an Austrian born man named Adolph Hitler. He has become a god-like figure; the people must salute him and say, Heil Hitler. He has his sights set on all of Europe; Austria is going to be the first he will place under his control."
And Brigitta remembered the secret she was keeping. She didn't speak but her father did.
"Hitler sent his surrogate. He was the short man with the funny moustache at the party. His name I will never speak. It's he who captured me. He wanted to be in Hitler's inner circle. He thought bringing me to the German navy base would get him there. Luckily Uncle Max had witnessed my capture and then went to the Abbey to speak with your mother who was able to rescue me.
"And then Bishop Howard told all the adults of the plan to get all of us out of Austria. We are almost to the place of freedom, America. There's a phase your mother recited to me; I will repeat it.
"When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window. Our open window is America. What God plans for us when we arrive there, I don't know. I'm sure Father Wasner would tell us God will reveal it on his time."
"Your father is absolutely correct. I doubt He will wait very long. Mike, how much further is it to the port?"
Mike answered Father Wasner.
"There are two ports ahead, one is for cargo and just past it, on an island, is the Navy Port. You should be able to see faint images of cargo ships in about twenty minutes."
The entire group kept watching for a cargo ship.
Mike had been right. Franz spoke to the group.
"Does everyone see the big crane?"
He heard their "yeses."
"Now look at the water in front of it. You should see a long flat ship."
He heard an affirmative answer. "That's a cargo ship. Keep watching and you will see them load a car on the ship."
While the group was busy watching the crane operator load the car on the cargo ship, Captain Davy had made a turn towards the east. And very soon their eyes saw the Navy Yard crowded with battleships.