First Ellis Island immigrant honored
NEW YORK, Oct. 12 (UPI) --
Eighty-four years after her death, Annie Moore, the first immigrant to land on New York's Ellis Island, has been given a proper burial in Queens.
An estimated 200 people gathered at Calvary Cemetery Saturday to honor Moore, who had been buried in an unmarked grave along with five of her 10 children, the New York Post reported Sunday.
Moore made headline news when she arrived from Ireland at age 14 on Jan. 1, 1892, the first of millions of immigrants to come to the United States through Ellis Island.
Having died at age 50 after a hard life, her story was resurrected by genealogist Megan Smolenyak, who was making a film about Ellis Island and heard about "wee Annie," the Post reported.
After a records search, Moore's grave was found and five of her great-grandchildren raised $25,000 for a carved headstone befitting their family matriarch, the Post reported.
"The happy ending for her is that her descendants have done so well, and
she is regaining her rightful place in history," said Smolenyak.
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