The Rochester Lithuanians

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• 2020
• Documentary

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• Watchlist

Lithuanians were part of the approximately 13 million immigrants coming to the United States from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s. Many were mistakenly labeled as Russian or Polish at Ellis Island but once in America, they proudly identified as Lithuanian and worked adamantly to preserve their culture, language and identity. The Rochester Lithuanians document their stories from their initial arrival in the 1900s to the present day. We follow the early arrivals as they establish their communities, church and businesses. We follow them through World War I and World War II. We hear of the experiences of the "Displaced Persons" as they fled their homeland, arrived in America and settled in Rochester, NY. Rochester Lithuanians is essentially the story shared by many immigrants coming to America. The film helps us appreciate the contribution that immigrants make to the diversity and fabric of America.