Kids & Family

Roosevelt's Grandson, Visiting Saturday, Says Greenbelt Inspires Him

Growing up hearing grandmother Eleanor's stories, James Roosevelt Jr. looks forward to visit for city's 75th anniversary.

 

The son of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt's eldest son James, James Roosevelt Jr., still remembers his grandmother talking about her vision for liveable environments like Greenbelt that foster a sense of community.

"I remember my grandmother very well, she lived until I was a senior in high school," Roosevelt said.

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He's headed Greenbelt's way Saturday for the city's 75th Anniversary and will speak with the community at 2 p.m. in the Greenbelt Community Center.

"I'm going to talk about my grandmom's ideals at time the town was founded," Roosevelt said. "And how it still stands out as a place of the sense of community and shared responsibilities for our fellow citizens that she strongly felt we needed to foster."

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He said he may also relate it to our country's overall sense of community and how we approach healthcare, retirement and related issues.

Founded in 1937, Greenbelt is one of three "greenbelt" communities founded under the watchful eye of his grandfather during his years as President of the United States.

But Eleanor Roosevelt was not in the dark about it. Roosevelt said he grew up on the West Coast so he didn't see Greenbelt or other examples of its type community, but his grandmother would talk to him about them in general.

Many years later, he visited Greenbelt and got a clear picture.

"I still find it very inspiring," Roosevelt said. "I don't know if you live there everyday if it strikes you as a unique community. But just visiting there, it strikes me me as a a place that was really designed with the needs of people in mind."

Roosevelt plans to arrive in Greenbelt a little before lunch and tour a little before he talks to the community. History is likely to have a feast as the historic grandson sets foot in a landmark city of his legendary ancestors' accomplishments during its milestone 75th year.


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