10 Alfred Chan
It is 1945. WWII is over. Soldiers and sailors were filled with joy as the troop carrier steamed toward San Francisco. US Navy Seabee, Alfred Chan’s thoughts drifted to his humble beginnings in the rural Sacramento Delta farmlands where he faced discrimination and segregation, feeling like an outsider. As the ship sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge, Alfred’s heart swelled with emotion. The bridge, a symbol of hope and freedom, welcomed him home. Alfred knew that he belonged here, amongst his fellow Americans. Tears welled up in his eyes as he breathed in the familiar scent of farmland. In that moment, he knew that he was where he belonged. In a world torn apart by war, the bridge shone as a light of unity, reminding Alfred and his comrades-in-arms that despite their differences, they all belonged here.
