Forty Years Ago Today, I Became An American Citizen

Self | January 23, 2015 | Tennssee Nana

[Tennessee Nana]

On January 23, 1975, in a courthouse in Portland, OR, I sat with many other grateful immigrants and listened as a local judge, himself the son of immigrants fron Eastern Europe, congratulated us and expounded on our new responsibilities as American citizens. He was as teary eyed as we were.

Among our group was an 80 year old Jew from Poland. She had escaped with her family during the 1930s and had raised her children in America to be good citizens and to prosper. She cried and kept saying "Thank you" and we cried with her. Her attorney grandson explained that she had worked hard for her family and had not perfected her spoken and written English enough to qualify to become an American citizen until recently. Her decades long desire had been to be naturalized, and she worked hard to achieve her goal by learning English to the point that she was now finally eligible.

When we realize that illegal aliens who have entered our sovereign country are not required to learn our language, and have been excused by Obama and his minions, is it any wonder that this lady's determination to make herself presentable in all aspects for naturalization as an American citizen proves to be an even greater achievement?

That day for me will always be one of the crowning milestones in my life and I am misty eyed as I write, just as I was that wondrous day. As I stood will the others taking the pledge of allegiance to my new country, I was dazed and felt that it was not real but just a marvelous dream.

I served in the United States Air Force at the time, and I wore my uniform to the ceremony, and regards of the directives of the military, I showed emotion almost continually from my grateful and humbled heart.

January 23, 1975 will for me always stand out as the day I joined the millions of American citizens who loved and respected their country. What we have become since that day 40 years ago is sad, but my heart turns back to the time when it was a privilege to live in America and to be accepted as a new citizen, and I still rejoice in my country.

Tennessee Nana American citizen

[Tennessee Nana]

oh and I have a few friends in Atlanta and elsewhere in GA who are members of the UDC..They talk to me..

Does that make it better ?

:):)

[b4its2late]

You did it your way, which was the correct way!

[Kartographer]

"I was born in New Zealand..."

Ahhh...Middle Earth

[Tennessee Nana]

yeah and the planet of Blue People

[fieldmarshaldj]

Congrats.

[Nervous Tick]

>> This is the greatest country in the world and no Obama, or Romney or Clinton or moslem terrorist can change that try as they might.. America was kissed by God at the outset, and He holds our future.. the Founding Fathers acknowledged God as the creator of these shores and He and only He will determine our path..

Well said, and AMEN.

[Resettozero]

My youngest daughter was born in Nuff Chaston, Souf Ca’lina though :) We lived there 10 years...

While living in Charleston NORTH of Broad, did you ever pick up and/or read any of Pat Conroy's books? R2z

[Tennessee Nana]

I saw the movie made from one of them..

the one about living on the island..

actually we lived in for a while in North Charleston..

I was jest bein a smarty

My daughter was born in Berkeley County at Trident Hospital across from my Alma Mata ..Charleston Southern University..

[Joe Boucher]

Huguenot,
fled France due to Catholic persecution.
Sounds like a lot of our forefathers came here for that kind of freedom.
Course a lot of jails and were emptied to America too.,

[MHGinTN]

I have an old college friend down in Moncks Corner ...

[Bigg Red]

Beautiful! Thank you.

&&
...for us America was the old country..

**
That one made me smile.

&&&
America was kissed by God at the outset, and He holds our future..

**
That one brought a tear to my eye.

^^^
God bless you, Nan.

[Chode]

welcome home...

[Irenic]

I just got back home and what a surprise you have left! You come from quite a lineage, eh?!

Somewhere along the way I think I just fell off the cabbage truck or something.

Seriously, I feel a bit ashamed reading of your history and of your love for our country.

I desperately love this country but I believe I have spent my life taking this country for granted.

You’ve shamed me and also given me hope in declaring that none of those knucklehead politicians can change the greatness of this country.

Thanks for choosing to become an American citizen, Nana...you’ve made it a better place.