I have always heard stories from my mother about my grandmother’s life in America.  I thought of my grandmother’s story as one personal to my family, but looking at this document I now realize that a part of her story was written down as a part of American history.  I see the dates and places that, I was told time and time again, show her journey to this country, on this official document.  My grandmother’s name was Elisabeth Binder.  She was born on April 22, 1921 in Ond, Hungary.  She had blonde hair and blue eyes.  She came to America on the USAT General J.H. McRae on September 28, 1949.  I also see a portion of her life that isn’t explicitly stated.  There is a tattoo on her left forearm which, I know, is a result of her experience in Auschwitz during the Holocaust.  Her marriage to my grandfather only shows a small part of the family that she will eventually have.  I know many other things that this Declaration of Intent does not include, but I don’t know everything about her life of two worlds.  I see this document as proof of her existence not only in my life but in the history of America itself.

– Johanna Farkas

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant