This is in response to a Sunspots item published Sept. 28. The question concerned the Somali immigrants. The Sunspots response included a remark that today’s immigrants are much like others who came here from Canada, Ireland, Italy and other places in the past. I believe those immigrants were quite different from those of today.

The immigrants back then chose to settle here and took jobs in the mills and shoe shops, built schools and churches, and paid their taxes. They were not after any aid of any kind.

My father came from Canada. He served in the military and became a U.S. citizen in 1918. He raised a family of 10 children, six of whom served in the military. We never asked for aid from the city, state or federal government.

I’ve never applied for unemployment insurance. I’ve always worked. I started delivering the Lewiston Evening Journal in the 1940s from South Avenue to the crooked bridge, and every street.

We worked hard to accomplish what we have, and we are proud of it.

L. Fernand Bussiere, Auburn