LONG MAY SHE WAVE; 117-YEAR-OLD BECOMES CITIZEN : HUSBAND, FAITH, CURED MEAT GET LONGEVITY CREDIT.

Byline: Yvette Cabrera Daily News Staff Writer

Manik Bokchalian has accumulated two lifetimes' worth of stories, but Friday she racked up the crowning anecdote as she became a U.S. citizen at 117 years old - possibly the oldest person to become naturalized.

With a spirit defying her age, Bokchalian not only stood to take her oath of allegiance, but waved her miniature American flag with gusto and shook the hands of well-wishers like a seasoned politician.

The Van Nuys resident was one of 4,000 legal residents who became U.S. citizens in one of two ceremonies Friday for the Immigration and Naturalization Services at the Los Angeles Convention Center downtown.

``She's always wanted to do it, but she never had the chance to - until now,'' said Marine Gambaryan, translator for the Armenian-speaking Bokchalian.

Though her typical day is spent quietly at home with her numerous great-grandchildren, Bokchalian found herself in the limelight.

She smiled for cameras, blessed all who congratulated her, and even drew a gasp from the audience when INS District Director Richard K. Rogers mentioned her age during his address to the new citizens.

The INS Los Angeles District naturalizes people in their 90s or older about once a year, Rogers said.

``It's very rare, every once in a while during the year we'll have somebody in the 90s, 95, or 100,'' said Rogers, who personally delivered Bokchalian's naturalization certificate after the ceremony. ``Her alertness is amazing, it's just absolutely amazing.''

Bokchalian's age was verified by the State Department, which verifies all birth certificates before they are submitted to the INS, Rogers said.

That would make her older than Canadian Marie Louise Meilleur, whom the Guinness Book of World Records recently named the world's oldest person after the death of Jeanne Calment of France.

Meilleur turned 117 on Friday, while Bokchalian turned 117 on June 30.

Bokchalian came to the United States in 1980, at 101 years of age, with her four grown children. Born in Turkey, Bokchalian had lived in Syria, Lebanon and finally then-Soviet Armenia, but had always aspired to settle in America.

``When you're living in Armenia, the only escape is the United States. There's no choice,'' said Bokchalian, through Gambaryan.

Bokchalian survived her parents - who were killed in the mass extermination from 1915-1917 in Turkey under Ottoman Empire - and her husband, a butcher shop owner who died 50 years ago of a heart attack.

The secret to her longevity? Bokchalian says it was a combination of having a good husband, a strong belief in God and plenty of basterma, a type of cured Armenian red meat.

``I've always believed in God and prayed, that's the secret,'' said Bokchalian.

Nine months ago, Bokchalian was inspired to naturalize after her grandson spotted an advertisement from the Department of Civil Services, a private agency in Glendale that provides translation and immigration services to immigrants.

When Ashot Sean Gambaryan, an employee of the agency, showed up at Bokchalian's house to help her fill out the citizenship application, he was amazed to find the 117-year-old moving and walking.

``During the INS test they asked, `Are you willing to bear arms for this country?' and she said: `I fought against the Turks; I will fight against anyone who comes to me,' '' he said.

Despite the hectic ceremony, Bokchalian said she would cap her day with a party at her Van Nuys home with her three surviving grown children plus 30 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

With his own naturalization certificate in hand, Glendale resident Steve Gimian took the time to congratulate Bokchalian on his way out of the convention center and wished her another 100 years of life.

``I can understand her happiness because all these years she was going from one country to another and not belonging,'' said Gimian, an Austrian-Armenian. ``Now she has a place to call her own.''

With Friday's ceremony, a total of 73,625 people have been naturalized in the INS Los Angeles District, which includes the seven counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

The naturalization pace has slowed significantly since last year's record-breaking 246,176 naturalizations.

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Photo: (Color) Manik Bokchalian, 117, waves the flag after becoming an American citizen Friday at a ceremony downtown.

Evan Yee/Daily News