As the airplane landed in New York City, my family and I left behind our fatherland, the Netherlands. When the mainland came into view, we witnessed the Statue of Liberty welcoming us to America. That day, February 11, 1957, would dramatically change the course of our lives. A new language, culture, and opportunity were now the reality and challenge. We embraced our new family mission from day one: to assimilate into the American way of life.
There were several reasons why my parents decided to leave their family, friends, and culture behind. My father owned and operated a small grocery store in the town of Heemstede. Even back then, the larger, more efficient grocery stores made it difficult to stay profitable. My parents realized that we either needed to compete on a larger scale or work for a larger grocer, possibly in management. But one day my mother read about the opportunity to immigrate to America. In a matter of months, we completed our application, fulfilled the medical requirements, and were approved to travel to America. We memorialized our immigration journey from Holland to America on a small tile, where we engraved our names and the departure date.
After we touched down in New York City, we boarded a train that took us to Rochester, New York. We arrived with the clothes on our backs and a few suitcases. We were allowed to ship some of our belongings by container, which didn’t arrive until months later. We were fortunate in that my father’s cousin and his family of nine had immigrated two years earlier. They had rented a large home, which became our home until my father found a job and we got an apartment.
My father, having attended a carpentry-focused vocational school in Holland, gained employment rather quickly. Despite having limited knowledge of the English language, my father knew the language of carpentry. Verbal English came quickly to me at age 12. My brothers were 8 and 9 years younger and learned their English early on in school. While my parents learned to speak English, a thick accent accompanied their English for a lifetime.
At the time of our immigration, it was said that in America the streets were paved with gold. While that was a bit dramatic, America was paved with opportunity. If you were willing to work, your efforts were rewarded. One day, my parents realized the American dream and purchased their first home, a three-bedroom house with a full bath. They also bought our first car, a 1954 Chevrolet two-door hardtop.
Over the years, our family has made an effort to pay it forward. Some of us served in this nation’s military. I completed a tour in the U.S. Marine Corps in the late ’60s, and my daughter did a tour in the U.S. Navy. We thrived in our communities, and with God’s blessing and good fortune, we continue to do so. All of us are grateful for the opportunities that America has afforded us.
But today, there are serious concerns about the well-being of our nation. The definition of immigration has been altered. Immigration laws are being ignored, and the open borders threaten our nation. It is ironic that those crossing the border and those flown in directly are escaping a lawless system in their home countries, yet they recreate it upon arrival. As our sustainability and ability to cope with the millions of individuals entering our cities are being threatened, we can only hope and pray that wiser minds will address the deeper issues and reinstate law and order.
My parents, pioneers from Holland, passed away some time ago, my mother at 91 and my father at 101. My siblings and I owe them a debt of gratitude for bringing us to America and providing us with the opportunity to assimilate into the American way of life. We did so in one generation. We boys are all retired and now spend time with our kids and grandkids. We are appreciative of our early pioneers who abided by the immigration laws, resulting in our good fortune. We are truly blessed to be in America.
This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.