We asked people to participate in Real American Stories and were astonished by the responses. From people we stopped on the sidewalk to household names eager to tell their uniquely American stories, we invite you to watch selections that moved us.
Through hard work and perseverance, Mila Apostol created the little store that could.
A refugee survivor, Derreck Kayongo is saving the world, one bar of soap at a time.
A harrowing escape from Iran, a fight for freedom, and the little bakery that could.
A bi-lateral amputee, Rachel leads her teammates with a truly inspiring attitude.
Pushing the limits of pickling by bringing lots of taste to the traditional mason jar.
Aaron Dworkin brings classical music to the inner city, and opens up a world of possibilities.
Anne Mahlum starts a running program that helps homeless men reclaim their lives.
A DC inner city school teaches rugby to a school for the deaf and the results are loud and clear.
A DC inner city school teaches rugby to a school for the deaf and the results are loud and clear.
Some call air guitar part perf. art, pro wrestling and rock’n’roll. Whatever it is, it sure is fun.
An Iraq War veteran, James talks about surviving a suicide attack and serving our country.
She talks about coming over from Italy as a child and the chances America has given her.
She’s following in grandfather’s footsteps, paying it forward, and living up to her good name.
Her parents left Albania so she could grow up with the freedom to live out her “American Dream.”
A 1st grade teacher talks about teaching the Pledge of Allegiance to her students.
The father of entertainer Beyonce, he talks of the importance of reaching for your dreams.
She raised nine children and talks about overcoming adversity and following your dreams.
As devoted parents, they provided a safe and loving environment for over 40 foster babies.
She shares her ancestors’ sacrifices and struggles for the freedoms we enjoy in America.
Inspired by wounded soldiers, he’s in med school training to become a doctor in the U.S. Army.
Julie Smith & Joyce Hogan have served our nation through their husbands’ military service.
They adpoted two children from Russia and share how the experience changed their lives.
Vietnam Vet who talks about how service changed his life and his feeling for this country.
He compares football to unity and talks about the importance of America coming together.
She’s a 3rd generation American who talks of fulfilling the dreams of our founding fathers.
A Vietnam Vet, Anthony talks about surviving a vicious attack, and the costs of freedom.
The couple talks about raising their kids and the freedoms we cherish in this country.
A teacher who credits her ancestors for giving us the freedoms we share in this country.
A Cuban American who talks about how her father risked his life to bring his family here.
Married for 52 years, they talk about growing up and raising a family in a small town.
He came from India to become an engineer and is currently applying for U.S. citizenship.
The award winning country music group talks about performing for the troops in Iraq.
I worked in different areas of foster care for many years & met many wonderful,
inspiring & loving souls…white families with black children & black families with white children…..like Fred & Tina. God bless them.
Tnis story touched my heart because we too have adopted foster children ,5 in all. I can attest to the fact that love for a child is not bound by blood or biology. we have 3 adult children and they love their siblings the same way they do each other. This couple is doing what Americans do best ,changing the world right where you are.. and I am grateful to be a part of making this world a better place for children
Dear Fred and Tina Sayers,
People like you make this country so beautiful and this is why it is worth fighting for our freedom.
Thank you for your inspiring American story. It truly touched my heart.
Eileen
Dear Fred & Tina,
I have wanted more children for so long and really considered foster care because I know there is a real need out there. I believe that God put people and messages in our lives at the right time for a reason and I believe your story is a message for me (and I’m sure many others). God bless you and your family. Thank you for being part of the solution for a better world in your generosity and selfishness. We need more people like you.
God bless and Merry Christmas,
Rita Christle
Frisco, TX
As a former foster parent your story touched me. We have tried to adopt for several years. Foster care was one of the ways we tried to reach our goal of adopting. We have struggled with infertility, so the attachment you talked about was a huge issue for us. We were really taken advantage of by our state DHHR, and we have decided not to do foster care again. Our state placed an abandoned infant with us at 6 days old. For six months they told us we would be able to adopt her. One day they called us and said they were moving her to another state with a sibling (one of four, that were all in different homes), and the next day she was gone. Workers told us that we should not get attached to foster children, and they didn’t call us for more placements. We have moved on to trying with an actual adoption agency, and our hearts ache everyday for our baby. We could never survive another loss like that, and I am sure you can understand because you share that love with your children. I didn’t expect a guaranteed adoption, I just expected honesty. That is something we have never found with our state’s DHHR. We can’t even get a worker to call us back about children that are legally free for adoption. Hopefully one day we will get the chance to share our life and love with a child. I just can’t believe that adopting a child is this hard. I can’t understand why people would rather abort a child instead of giving it life by choosing loving adoptive parents. God Bless You for all you have done for those children……..