My Friend is Among Millions to Become Proud, Naturalized U.S. Citizens

On June 13, 2008, I was honored to witness a cherished friend become a U.S. citizen. Hermine has been living in the United States for six years, coming here from Armenia. This was only the second naturalization ceremony to be held in Panama City, Florida. In the past, candidates for citizenship had to travel to other parts of the state to receive their certificates. Reciting the oath with Hermine were 35 immigrants representing twenty-eight different countries. From homelands of Russia to China, these newly sworn Americans pledged allegiance to the United States of America.

I first met Hermine at my workplace, where she had applied for a job. She returned to check on her application status. She seemed downhearted when I told her she would be contacted if the boss decided to hire her. Something about her demeanor led me to ask the manager to give her a chance. Hermine brought a ray of sunshine into our gloomy midst, and we were fortunate in getting to know one of the sweetest people on earth.

Hermine brings many valuable traits to America. She has a strong work ethic and believes in staying busy. She is a whiz at multitasking and looking for ways to be helpful. A joy to be around, she is always pleasant, and cheerful. When Hermine came to America, she barely spoke a word of English. In her quiet way, she soaked up the American culture, learning our language. Hermine is very independent, her family living far away from here. She made a faithful leap at a new life with an adopted circle of friends.

We tease Hermine about her European style of dress. She stands out in our crowd of laid-back beach sandals and hair in ponytails. Hermine wears the latest fashion and stilettos for every occasion. I joked that when she was having a baby she would be wearing heels with her hospital gown. Another contribution to America from Hermine is her ability to SHOP! She contributes vastly to the American economy with her unparalleled abilities to accessorize. Bless her heart; [being Southern- I had to say it once] her stylish flare has not rubbed off on us yet. She just shakes her head at our vague attempts and smiles. On her special citizenship day, we did manage to color coordinate.

If I had to describe Hermine in one word, it would be kind-hearted. Okay, maybe two words. I was planning a trip to England in the dead of winter, and she looked at me in horror. "Veronica, you could die!" She knew I did not own a warm jacket being from Florida. I laughed, assuring her I would purchase warmer clothing. "No, Veronica, even bundled up- you are not used to the cold and you will freeze to death!" I made certain to send her a snapshot of myself in scarf, gloves, and a hat INSIDE next to the heater. Naturally, the ensemble did not match. You can take the girl out of the country...

Hermine grew up in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. The Republic of Armenia is a mountainous country in Eurasia between the Black and Caspian Seas. The Kingdom of Armenia was the first state to adopt Christianity in the 4^th century. Armenia lies in the highlands surrounding the Biblical mountains of Ararat on which Christian theology states Noah's Ark came to rest after the Great Flood. In Armenian tradition, the name Yerevan is derived from the exclamation Noah cried out when he spied the Ark after the waters receded, "Yerevants!" which means 'it appeared'. Yerevan was a refuge for those fleeing the Armenian Genocide.

The bloodstains of the Armenian Genocide are pressed on the pages of World History that we have avoided looking at too closely. The Ottoman Empire was responsible for obliterating over a million innocent Armenians. Under Ottoman rule, the Christian Armenians faced persecution from a strict Muslim social system. During World War I, the Ottomans viewed the Armenians with hatred. The Minister of War publicly blamed their defeat on the Armenians for actively siding with the Russians. Hermine had relatives that were victims of this inhumane slaughter.

Hermine met her future husband in America. Vitalij is a handsome hard worker from Lithuania that is another story all on his own. They are working towards the American Dream of home ownership. Together, they are raising their precious daughter, Lia, who was born in the USA. Hermine is one of the most patient, and loving Mothers I have ever seen. Lia will grow up with all the advantages of parents who love and care for her. At two and a half years of age, Lia speaks English, Russian, and Armenian.

To relieve some of the monotony from our jobs, I gave each of my co-workers an alias. We had a 'flower' name that I picked to hide our identity from the dreaded clientele. Hermine's code name was Lotus. She was a lotus bloom that rises from the murky depths, and blossoms gracefully amid chaos. Hermine has plans to continue her education. Whatever path she chooses, I have no doubt it will be a success. She does this country proud, and will forever stand tall in her matching red, white, and blue shoes.

Welcome Home, Hermine.

Sources: www.armeniapedia.org