A Shout-Out to Tim: A Zonian Returning to the Former Canal Zone After 40 Years
I just wanted to give a shout out to Tim, a Zonian who took some time out of his busy schedule to tell us about his recent return to Panama after 40 years, to attend his 50th Anniversary Balboa High School Reunion in the former Canal Zone.
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I first want to give a little background on me. My great grandfather came to Panama in 1906 from Texas along with his large family to work on the construction of the canal. My grandfather was 17 at the time. My father was born in Ancon in 1917 and my mother was born in 1919 in Colon. My mother’s parents were from Maryland and came to Panama in 1916. My sister and I were born in San Fernando in 1956 and 1958 but grew up in Balboa and Diablo. We had to leave and move to the states in the 70’s.
It was painful to be told that I had to leave, what I considered my country. I turned my back on Panama for the next 40 years. This past January I returned for the first time for my 50th Balboa high school reunion. Bitter sweet. The reason for this message is that I want you to know how surprised I was finding this Newsroom. I love the articles and look forward to reading them every day. It’s refreshing. I am 67 now and hope to return every year for the Panama Canal Zone reunions in January. Thank you and keep up with the great work you all do.
