Yesterday
at the library, we had a naturalized citizen swearing in ceremony in one of our
meeting rooms. This event is one of many
that occur around the country each week.
I was asked to assist by handing out packets of information and a small
3X5 American flag to each of the eleven new citizens.
The
ceremony was conducted by two officers of the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Service using a PowerPoint presentation on an LCD projector and screen. At the beginning of the program, the National
Anthem is sung, with the words displayed at the bottom of the screen. At the last six lines or so of the Anthem,
there was a computer malfunction and although the video continued to play, the
sound stopped. The audience of about 65 people,
consisting of inductees and family members, continued to sing the Anthem a cappella. This was very heartwarming.
At
the start of the meeting when the new citizens were arriving, I noticed a young
lady on the front row who was beaming from the minute she came into the meeting
room. It was like she could not control
her excitement and pride in becoming an American citizen. She continued to break into a smile
periodically throughout the swearing in process.
I
firmly believe that what has made this country great is the influx of new people
and new ideas to the United States. When
independence was established here in 1776, it was by a mix of people from various
countries working together to form a new nation.
Many
of the countries in Europe are just about begging people to come to their countries
because of the lack of young people to keep the country vibrant and populated. Here in the United State, we have never had
to encourage people to come here as they come of their own free will.
In
this time of a presidential election and all the controversy over immigrants
coming to the United States, attending this ceremony was a very moving
experience. It is easy for us to be
jaded at times, forgetting that immigrants built this country and continue to
make it a great country.
