Whether our heritage was comprised of Native Americans, Caucasians in the early days of America’s recorded history, Africans in the late 18^th century and beyond, Asians during the beginning of the Industrial Age, Irish during the great Potato Famine, Italians, Germans, Cubans, or Vietnamese in the mid-70s—we are all either immigrants or descendants of immigrants.

In 1630, Puritan John Winthrop preached a sermon to the Massachusetts Bay Colony entitled “A Model of Christian Charity.” In that sermon he indicated that their new community would be a “city upon a hill,” and would be watched by the world. 

Three hundred fifty years later, this phrase would be often echoed by the late President Ronald Reagan in his descriptions of America as “the shining city on the hill” for the rest of the world. 

The country will watch our actions here in Springfield.  Will Springfield shine or will the tarnish spread?