I am in tears as I watch Senator Kennedy's coffin being slowly loaded into the hearse for his final journey.
I would not be here typing from my own home in the Subhurbs of New England if it were not for him...
Jump
Dear Senator Kennedy,
Thank you.
You never met me, you never heard my voice.
You never saw my family and you never knew my fate.
You never asked because I was one of the faceless whom you helped.
Sir, I am crying my eyes out because I would not be in my present life if you had not intervened in my case.
I will remind you even though you are now gone but I need to share.
Years ago your office intervened when my visa was revoked in the country of my birth.
I had returned there to renew my student visa in order to travel to Africa for research.
Because of a problem with my status years before, which had been rectified, at that same office in the land of my birth my visa was rescinded.
I was suppose to be back at college preparing for my trip a couple weeks later but I never returned.
The immigration officer told me I would never see the USA again.
Broken and lost, I went home to my family too traumatized to understand what had gone wrong.
I called the college in the USA and explained what happened. The International office pulled out all the stops to try to reslove the issue Stateside.
I worked in my country over the following months to sort out the situation.
My case led me to government offices and officials who symphathized with my situation and the wheels started to turn.
However, my college galvanized by student support for my case and my good academic standing there contacted your office and the push became a determined and strong force.
Because of your office's intervention and the support of the government offices in my country, I returned to the US embassy for my visa and received it right in front of the female American officer who had rejected me.
She was not happy.
I was very pleased.
I returned to the USA shortly after and embarked on my research trip.
The college community greeted me with much glee and support.
I am now a graduate of that college thanks to you and your efforts.
Sir, you never met me, you never spoke to me, you never knew me.
But, I knew of you and because of you I am educated and free.
Thank you Sir.
Prayers be with you and Rest in Peace.
This grateful immigrant salutes you.
Peace