My story began 100 years ago today.

My entire family’s history began on this day.

Elizabeth McHugh, AKA Lizzie, disembarked the steamship, Franconia, in New York Harbor 100 years ago, and America would never be the same.

Entering the country on a visitor’s visa, it is my belief that she never went through the formalities of becoming a U.S. citizen. I obtained the information of her arrival back in February 1916, long before masked men would have hunted her down. To be sure, she was in the country legally and most likely was a registered alien which was a common thing in those days. All that was required was an annual renewal of her registration.

Now, she was certainly capable of becoming a citizen as she was the spouse of a citizen and, for all I know, she well may have become a citizen but I never thought to ask her when she was alive, and it is only recently that some of my family had the notion that she may not have been naturalized.

Nevertheless, here I am, and here is the rest of the family that she and my father have brought into the world.

Together, my parents had five children and 22 grandchildren and a staggering number of great-grandchildren and great- great -grandchildren.

I didn’t think about it at the time but Eileen and I got married one day before our wedding and yesterday we celebrated our fiftieth anniversary, one day before Lizzie’s arrival to the shores of New York City.

Could she have imagined what her disembarkation would lead to?

I think that, when she saw Lady Liberty in the harbor, she had a pretty good idea what walking off the Franconia would lead to.

Neal Armstrong’s first step onto the moon pales in comparison,

My mother had just turned 19 when she made the journey of her life, and I always marveled at the courage she exhibited in coming to America.

I always thank God that she did.

Lizzie was my greatest teacher and she continues to guide me through a perilous world. The lessons she shared have been passed down to my children, and I have no doubt they will be passed down to EJ and Nolan.