A Special Immigrants edition of the platinum pias awards

The 2015 Platinum PIAs Awards was dedicated to and celebrating the immigrants who have come to this country. It was inspired by my paternal grandmother and grandfather who were both immigrants from Greece. Interestingly enough, it was a Greek statue called “The Colossus of Rhodes,” that was referenced in comparison to the then unbuilt Statue of Liberty in Emma Lazarus’ famous poem entitled “The New Colossus.

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name MOTHER OF EXILES.”

This the famous section from the poem:

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”