Emotional day at county courthouse

BINGHAMTON – Call it the luck o’ the Irish. After 12 years on this side of the Atlantic, Ireland-born Veronica Hroncich was ready to become an American citizen. She expected her husband John to be at her side, along with her sister, Majella O’Brien-Chute of Boston.

She didn’t expect her father to show up at the Broome County Courthouse, fresh off the plane from Cork, Ireland.

“It took 12 years to become an American citizen and only nine months to become an Irish one,” joked Noel O’Brien, who described his hometown as located “next to Blarney.”

During Friday’s ceremony, 48 people from more than 30 countries took the oath to become naturalized citizens. Babies cried and cameras clicked as they spoke the oath in chorus.

Binghamton resident Nasra Abdullahi Farah stood out from the crowd in clothing from her native Somalia: a glittering shawl over a bright orange dress and thick gold bangles. With a broad grin, she posed for photos with officials and fellow English students from the American Civic Association.

“I am so proud!” beamed Farah, who came to this country seven years ago.

Van Hong Nguyen of Binghamton, originally from Vietnam, had a matching smile as she and Farah posed for photos with an official from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Nguyen said she’s been in the country for 4 1/2 years, and has a job with TeamWorld.

“I am happy today!” she said, carrying red flowers her English teacher gave her. She, like a number of new citizens, has taken English classes at the ACA.

Veronica Hroncich’s journey from Ireland began when she was a teenager and took a job as an au pair in Rhode Island. There she met her future husband, who was in the Navy.

She almost gave up her American life, though, when John Hroncich thought he’d be posted to San Diego. She begged her father to pay her way home. He refused – instead sending her sister over to the United States. It would have cost 400 pounds – the currency then – for plane fare at the time, O’Brien remembered.

Dad’s plan turned out to be for the best, since John stayed in Rhode Island.

Like Veronica, Majella married and stayed. Next year she plans to obtain her citizenship.

Source: Pressconnects

By Jennifer Micale • • Staff Writer

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