Here's an e-mail we received from a friend who became a U.S. citizen on Friday.
Coming from the Upper-Upper West Side, I needed to get the Lexington Avenue Express to get to the downtown courts, 9 a.m. sharp (as instructed by the official immigration letter) where I was to take my pledge of allegiance to the United States of America and finally become a US Citizen.
I muttered to myself, "Why do I have to deal with the early morning rush? Why can't they schedule this in the latter part of the morning or early afternoon?!?!?! Not only that, I have to use 4 trains and transfer to 3 trains from different lines in order to get to there in time. AND pray that no service delays occur!!!"
All my stress was blown away as I walked through the tunnel from the S Shuttle on the way to the 4 or 5 Express. In the distance, I could hear a melodic and beautiful voice in full force, singing "GOD BLESS AMERICA." How apt and most symbolic.
As I approached the young lady, I listened to each and every word with enthusiastic aplomb. Lighthearted and with renewed vigor, I plowed on with a warm feeling I have never experienced during NYC's rush hour.
When I finally got to the courthouse, I was able to endure the long 3 hours it entailed to process everything before the oath taking ceremony. I could hear that beautiful voice singing in my mind over and over again. It took a perplexed US Marshall to get me out of the trance, for as I exited the building he commented, "You've been smiling since you got here!" (It wasn't until that moment that I realized how tightly I had been clutching my US Naturalization Certificate.)
Truly, GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Our thanks VG, and congrats!