Citizenship a privilege

During the first year of World War II when Germans invaded Poland, the Nazis invaded our humble farm and gave my family only hours to vacate the beloved land that they had worked so hard to maintain. This was in the middle of winter, my mother pregnant with me, and with three small children. We were transported by train to Germany where Father was to become a farm laborer for the Germans. After 4 ½ years of surviving the war in a small village thanks to the ingenuity of my parents, we became DP (displaced people) yearning to find a country that would accept us. After being shuffled through eight DP camps and five years later, we were sponsored by the Polish Home of Alliance in New Jersey.

After intense mental and physical examinations of our by-then family of nine, our long wait and patience were finally rewarded. Our 10-day trip in a military transport ship, the USS Blatchford, brought us to the foot of the Statue of Liberty on Dec. 22, 1950. I still vividly remember as a 10-yearold leaving the camps and entering this beautiful country, which was like coming from hell to heaven.

We all quickly learned the language and customs. We embraced this country with love, and we all have contributed positively for the betterment of this wonderful land.

I personally served 27 years in the United States Air Force and, after retiring, have a successful business. I proudly wave the American flag on a 25-foot pole in front of our home. Anyone who was born in or migrated legally to this country should consider themselves blessed to live in this great country.

Our immigration system should be based on how our country will benefit. Immigrants must assimilate and learn the language, be productive and love this country. And yes, enter legally. Becoming a U.S. citizen is not a right. It is a privilege and it must be earned.

JOHN F. KAROLSON

North Little Rock