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<p>My four grandparents were born in Lithuania. Each was raised on adjoining farms and worked from sun-up to sun-down. After World War I, they migrated to America in search of their dreams of freedom.</p><p>These immigrants witnessed Lady Liberty from their ship, and waited patiently at Ellis Island for processing.</p><p>Here, they had a sponsor who guided them to a place to live and to look for employment. The language barrier was another challenge each had to endure while living in America.</p><p>My maternal grandparents settled in Paterson, New Jersey. They got married and both worked in a silk mill for decades. They raised a family of three children, one of whom was mentally challenged and wheelchair bound.</p><p>My grandfather, Frank Baltuska, worked hard, supported his family and helped to take care of his invalid daughter, Elsie. Grandma Alice then went to work her shift at the same factory. They always rented an apartment, never owned a car or home, but persevered.</p><p>One day, Grandpa was approached by a man who wanted his money. He replied after opening his empty pockets, &#8220;I have nothing. I am poor just like you are.&#8221;</p><p>Grandma and Grandpa loved America, always, even up to their passing.</p><p>My paternal grandparents, Felix and Marcella Voveris, also migrated after World War I. They came with dreams in their minds about a perfect paradise called America. After Ellis Island, they each met their sponsor and boarded a train for Massachusetts. They later married and settled at 187 Ames St. in Brockton.</p><p>They raised two healthy, vibrant children, one of whom was reaching the realm of becoming a Metropolitan Opera star. Unfortunately, she passed away at a young age in an arson fire. Their other child, Bronis Voveris, my father, got into the Boston Red Sox minor league before a leg injury ruined his career. His parents insisted he take piano lessons and they would pay for them.</p><p>Bronis then took up piano and went to the New England Conservatory to further his education. He received a scholarship to Kaunas University in Lithuania. While he was there, World War II broke out. He fled back to America via the fjords of Norway to an awaiting ship.</p><p>He resided temporarily with his parents in Brockton where both parents worked in shoe making factories. Later, my father migrated to Paterson, to work as an organist and choral director. Here, he met our mother and they were married soon after.</p><p>After their first child was born, they moved to Pittston in 1942. He played organ, taught voice and piano, worked in a defense plant in West Pittston and raised seven children. There were countless students and several opera stars who frequented our home for lessons. My father also taught lessons outside of our home.</p><p>He directed &#8220;The Men In Red&#8221; choral group at King&#8217;s College from the 1940s to the 1980s.</p><p>There is a statue at North Main and Jackson Streets in Wilkes-Barre that stands as a tribute to my father, commemorating his achievements. He was an organist at St. Casimir&#8217;s Church in Pittston as well as at St. Nicholas Church in Wilkes-Barre for more than 50 years.</p><p>All of his accomplishments were derived from the insistence of both sets of grandparents, who believed in America and what she had to offer her immigrants. Most important was what this country stood for, especially liberty and freedom.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bronis Voveris was an organist and choral director. He taught voice and piano and worked in a defense plant in West Pittston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_Bronis.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bronis Voveris was an organist and choral director. He taught voice and piano and worked in a defense plant in West Pittston. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ronald Voveris</p></bylineMeta></div>

2016 Coming to America: The Voveris family