Some would describe America as a melting pot, which in some ways it certainly is. We come together and embrace what it is to be American, and all can take advantage of the opportunities and freedoms we share. No matter where we come from, most citizens are proud to be Americans first and foremost. Citizens can appreciate where they come from and the heritage they bring to our great American heritage, but their home and their future are now America. As we approach celebrating the 250th anniversary of our independence this summer, it should never stop us from appreciating and even celebrating where we have come from. 

My wife and I recently spent three days experiencing the 60th annual Swedish Festival in Kingsburg, CA. For years, we had driven by the signs that declare the Swedish roots of this fine city. On one occasion, seeing the painted Dala horses on their signs, we had tried stopping to see what was there to see. Unfortunately, we took the wrong exit and found little evidence to validate their claim. We had not returned until this year.

In recent years, my cousin Dave Paulson and I have worked hard and invested resources in creating a book about our famous Swedish ancestor, Jöns Abrahamsson. He has been described as the Paul Bunyan of Sweden. Born in 1791, this man had grown to the size of seven feet three inches and 350 pounds. At the time, the average Swede was a mere five feet, six inches.

Our grandmother, Vera Paulson, had learned stories of this famous Swede from her parents.........

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