FIRST-GENERATION AMERICAN AMONG DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES

The son of Polish immigrants, Ronald Yersak of Dexter believes in the American dream and the Democratic Party.

The history of his parents and grandparents is a history of immigrant opportunity.

The 60-year-old financial adviser is a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, which begins Monday in Chicago. It will be his first political convention.

"I am a first-generation American. I consider it an honor to be selected to go to the convention," he said Tuesday.

He has telephoned his Polish relatives in Philadelphia and New Jersey to tell them he is convention-bound. He even called his old civics teacher in New Jersey.

"They all know I will be there," Yersak said.

Vicki Abernathy of Jackson also is a delegate to the convention.

"I am very excited. It is a dream come true," said Abernathy, 48, who grew up watching the political conventions on television.

Abernathy, who sells furniture in Jackson, isn't going to see the sights.

"I was a flight attendant for 17 years so I have seen all the sights in Chicago," she said.

She plans to attend a number of seminars at the convention on everything from health care to women's rights.

Yersak's immigrant heritage is at the heart of his support for the Democratic Party. His parents and grandparents came to the United States in the early 1900s.

"My father had a third-grade education, but he went on and became commissioner of wage-and-hours in the state of New Jersey," Yersak said.

"That could only happen in this country," he said.

Yersak's father served in World War II. Yersak was in the Korean War, and one of his sons is in the Air Force.

Yersak plans to attend a party hosted by Polish-American delegates.

He is sympathetic to immigrants. But he said they should be expected to learn English.

"My parents had to learn how to speak English and write English before they raised their hands at Ellis Island," Yersak said.

The Dexter Democrat opposes cuts in the federal student-loan program. He benefited from it when he went to college and lost his football scholarship. Student loans put his children through college.

Yersak said the nation needs some type of health insurance. He knows about the high cost of medical care.

Two of his daughters are handicapped and he has a stepson who is a quadriplegic.

Republicans, he said, paint Democrats as unchristian and not family oriented. "When they talk about family values, I want them to know that Democrats have family values too," he said.

There is a party atmosphere to conventions. Abernathy welcomes a little political cheer leading.

"There are so many doom and gloom things from day to day," said Abernathy. "I think the more things we have to cheer about the better."