well read your story. glad you and your family acclimated so well into american life. all estos had to do that. they all thought their trip from the d.p camps to america was temporary and they were all going to go back. the majority never did. and yes they did adopt america as their new home and country. they kept alive their thoughts of estonia and their heritage througout their lives through their children by teaching them estonian - going to laager - having verivorst - sult and rosolje and pirukad and kringel and of course the eesti lipp in the house.
am alittle surprised at your adamant refusal of having dual citizenship as you were born in eesti.
we all have followed and still do with honoring vabariigi aastapaev and eestipaevad although not so much since freedom in 1991.
my isa went back in 1992 after 50 plus years and felt maybe like you - that america was his country now.
he was a metsavend and lost his leg and lived his life in america but never forgot eesti and his roots till the day he died in 1987.
all estos knew of erni.
regards, pia