Seventy-one years ago my grandmother came here, to the United States, on a ship from Newfoundland. She was eighteen years old. It's a remarkable thing to think about: leaving everything you've known and setting out for the unknown at such a young age. Not only that, Grandma can't swim and is in fact afraid of water and boats. That makes it even more amazing.
She arrived on Ellis Island , was processed with all the other immigrants and was allowed to stay as a visitor for one year. During that year she met and fell in love with the man who would someday be my grandfather. When her visa expired Grandma had to go back home and she petitioned to enter the US to become a citizen. In order for that to work out she needed to be sponsored by a citizen but not just any citizen. This had to be a citizen who owned property. Grandpa had a friend who owned his own home so this friend sponsored Grandma. She came back to New York in 1937 and became a United States citizen on June 30, 1938.
My daughter, Emily, just went on a class trip to ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRATION MUSEUM. There on the wall is a list of the immigrants who came through and Emily found my grandmother's name: Ellen M. Griffin.
Grandma was here on Saturday for a family party and Emily told her about her trip and Grandma told Emily all about hers.
Aren't Grandmas wonderful?
What a wonderful story!! It's so special that your daughter saw the name Ellen M Griffin at Statin Island and even more that your grandmother is still alive and able to personally share with her.
Posted by: Wanda | May 09, 2007 at 05:57 PM