Erik Hansen Personal Trainer No Pain, No Gain
My great grandfather, Bernhuff came through Ellis Island from
Norway. In 1904, he won a gold medal in wrestling at the Olympic
games for the United States. In 2006, my grandfather and his
brothers returned to Norway to join in the centennial celebration
of his victory, where his achievement was commemorated with a
life-size statue in his hometown that acknowledged his American
identity. His achievement and strength were truly understood
around the world. My grandfather, Berger, inherited his father's
strength. He worked on New York's landmark Verrazano Bridge, and
although he endured an on-site accident during which a spike was
driven through his throat, he survived without benefit of even a
single aspirin. My grandfather overcame all odds. The bridge was
built. Today, I still grasp my family's legacy of heroic values.
Those values are "the bridge between dreaming and doing."
Joe Montana Football Champion Triumph Over Adversity
My grandparents were from Sicily and traveled through Ellis
Island in search of a new American life. They built that life on
hard work, sheer strength and unwavering determination. They
moved to western Pennsylvania working in coalmines and steel
mills in order to put bread on the table- nourishing a special
kind of pride. I take special pride in beating the odds, and in
proving cynics wrong. In San Francisco, when I played
professional football, I had to reach deep within myself to draw
upon strength that had been passed down to me from generations
past. Some people credit me with a decade of football triumph-
however, I was not alone: My triumphs were of my family's. They
were the ones who sacrificed. They were humble. They were the
true champions.
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