America was built by people who were willing to pack up their lives, leave their families and countries, and start a new life in a new world. I have heard and read countless stories about the immigrants who settled this land and created a home for their descendants. More often than not, these stories are romanticized and optimistic--pictures of stout, rosy folks leading simple but happy lives. The truth is far more stark: these people left their loved ones, likely never to see them again, and fought for every day. They lost children, spouses, businesses, and health. These heartrending sacrifices and hardships were the price these pioneers paid to create their legacy. They earned opportunities they lacked in their homelands, and a life that was truly their own.