Land of immigrants welcomes 12 more
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NORTHAMPTON - If you've got bones to pick with this country, you'd best keep them to yourself in the presence of Anastasia Kofides. The Amherst woman, who emigrated to the United States from Greece as a young bride in 1966, will straighten you out in a hurry.
"I just fight," she said. "I tell them, #I don't want to hear about nothing.' To live in this nice country - how can you not love it?"
Today, July 4, Kofides, 60, will live a dream come true. At 11 a.m., she and about 12 other western Massachusetts immigrants, will be naturalized as American citizens by U.S. District Judge Michael Ponsor on the lawn of the Old Courthouse. As they take their oaths of allegiance, the courthouse's historic Paul Revere bell will peal, former Sweet Honey in the Rock member Evelyn Harris will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," and Anastasia Kofides will cry. In fact, she's been crying off and on since she passed her interview last Thursday.
"The minute they told me I passed, I started crying," she said. "I'm so happy to be an American citizen. I'm a part - one part - of the United States."
It's been over 12 years since Hampshire County has been the site of a swearing-in ceremony for new Americans. These events are mostly held in Boston, not an easy haul for many of the folks involved.
But sometimes, all you have to do is ask, said Laurie Millman, marketing development coordinator for the Center for New Americans in Northampton. Millman called the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service in Boston and marveled at how accommodating they were. "They came out, wanted to see the courthouse, told me I'd have to have a color guard," she said. "It's very rare to have ceremonies out here. I'd love for this to be an annual event."
The oath is a long one, said Ponsor, who has administered it many times, though never on the Fourth of July.
"As judges, we have to do so many painful things, but this one is wholly delightful," he said. "It is impossible to do it without a tear forming in the corner of your eye, realizing what a profound thing this is for them, and for us."
Patriotism is very much on Ponsor's mind these days. His 24-year-old son Joseph, a U.S. Navy petty officer, is in his second tour of duty in Iraq as a helicopter crewman.
"I think about him every waking hour," said Ponsor. "It's pretty hard on families. I just sent him six dozen Atkins Fruit Bowl cookies. It's one way to deal with it."
Millman said members of the Council of Government and some courthouse employees are giving up their holiday to make the event a reality.
The swearing-in begins at 11.
"The citizenship swearing-in ceremony, which is particularly meaningful on the day we celebrate our country's birth, underscores the importance of the work we do and honors the immigrants who work so hard to become engaged members of our community," said CNA director Jim Ayres.
For Anastasia Kofides, it's been a long time coming.
She married her husband, Lazaros, three weeks after their arranged meeting in Greece. He and his brother Demitri, who married one of Anastasia's friends, made their way to the United States, sending for their young wives after they got settled.
"We both married perfect guys," said Kofides.
A better life
The brothers came to America for a purpose, said Kofides, to find a better life. The two couples shared an apartment in Boston for many years, working long factory shifts to put food on the table and save money. The Kofideses moved to Amherst in the 1980s, establishing The Sub on East Pleasant Street. The long hours continued there, but came with greater rewards. Kofides' son, Nicholas, runs the shop now, with his parents semi-retired.
Lazaros Kofides became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1971, but Anastasia was too busy raising three kids and trying to learn English - speaking not one word of it when she arrived on these shores.
The citizenship issue gnawed at her as years went by. "Day and night it bothered me," she said. "When you're young you don't think."
She tried for citizenship about 16 years ago, but failed the test. "I was not prepared," she said. "There were no DVDs to study from then. They asked me how many stars there were in the flags. I just froze. I didn't realize how important that was, or what they stood for."
Last year, Kofides made a call to the Center for New Americans. She was matched up with CNA volunteer Pete Rogers, who tutored her at Jones Library every Tuesday for three months.
"Pete gave me the courage," she said. "He made me believe I would pass."
"Anastasia was always the first to show up for class-a delight to work with," said Rogers, a retiree who has wanted to work with immigrants since his experiences in Vietnam. "They inspire me with their courage, determination and desire to better themselves and their families."
Kofides said the many group sessions offered at the center were immeasurably helpful. "I was moved by all those years by myself," she said. "I might go back and help the next group."
The test, administered verbally, requires the applicant to answer 100 questions on U.S. history and government. This time, Kofides got 96 out of 100 right. Knowing all the presidents is easy, she says, but the Louisiana Purchase can be a tough concept to wrap your mind around. "I was very proud to learn," she said. Some personal heroes emerged from her studies. Thomas Jefferson stands out for his establishment of free libraries and she found herself moved by the 1960s battle for civil rights.
Though she admits to feeling more patriotic these past few days, love for her adopted country has always swelled inside her. The Memorial Day Parade in Amherst, for instance, gets her every time. "I cry at the speeches, I cry at the floats. Something just happens inside - I can't explain it."
Her family will be there in force today, including most of her eight grandchildren, three of whom bear her first name. She predicts she'll cry, dabbing her eyes earlier this week at the very thought of it. Tutor Pete Rogers and his wife Sophie plan on being there, too.
It promises to be an emotional time for all. Millman said that the woman from USCIS cries at every ceremony, including the ones in Boston, where hundreds are naturalized in one fell swoop.
Love an enduring force
Love also played a part in Bachtiar Effendi's coming to America. Effendi, 47, was born in Bandung, Indonesia. He met his wife, Melody, a Pittsfield native, while working on the cruise ship that she and her sister were vacationing on in 1991. The love bug bit him hard and he asked her to marry him three days later. She thought he was kidding, but weeks later he showed up at her door. The cruise ship romance was now in full bloom. But love of another kind was also stirring.
"I could not believe what I found in America," said Effendi. "Every child goes to school, even if they don't have money, unlike in Indonesia-if you don't have money, you don't go to school. Also there are programs that make sure that you don't go hungry or are without a place to live."
The couple married in Miami in 1992, had a traditional wedding in Indonesia later that year and have lived in Pittsfield since 1991. Effendi is a facilities technician/carpenter at Canyon Ranch, where he has worked for 18 years. He credits friends, co-workers and his 16-year-old son Ardy with helping him understand the structure of American government, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. His family also provided moral support when he took his citizenship test in Boston last month. "My greatest asset is my family," he said.
Of his adopted country he said: "Water flows freely from the tap and it is cold. The media is not censored and everyone is treated equal. Everyone has a right to be heard, even me, one small man."
He and his family plan to dine in Northampton Saturday night, and host a picnic Sunday in Pittsfield.
"Please don't take this wrong - I do love Indonesia," he said. "But I have more rights in America."
