Thaindian News

By Madhuri Dey
New York, Apr 23, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Bruce Springsteen was honored with the Ellis Island Statue of Liberty Family Heritage award on Thursday, which is an award that is given every year in the honor of the immigrants who have contributed significantly to the United States, be it in the realm of culture, finance or literature. Bruce Springsteen was given the award along with the Chairman and CEO of Avon, Andrea Jung, banker Peter G. Peterson and NBA All-Star player Dikembe Mutombo. In the award ceremony, Bruce Springsteen chronicled many incidents from his life which had not hitherto been known.

For many the nomination of Bruce Springsteen for the Family Heritage Award was somewhat of a surprise, considering that he had been born in the United States itself, in New Jersey. However, it was the fact that his family had emigrated to the United States from England that was honored in the award ceremony. Bruce Springsteen had been 16 when his mother borrowed some money to buy him a guitar, and as he recalled in the ceremony, it was his mother who ad managed to hold the family together in times of terrible hardship.

Bruce Springsteen was present to receive the award along with his mother Adele Springtime and his two aunts Ida Urbelis and Dora Kirby. While receiving the award, Bruce Springsteen commented that he might not have been born in England, it he was hallways very aware of his roots, for, he felt, it is impossible for anyone to move forward or get anywhere without knowing where they hail from. He thanked his mother for having held the family together, even in those terribly depressing times.