Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Dozens fulfill dream of citizenship in emotional Las Vegas ceremony

New Citizens Sworn In At Fifth Street School

Steve Marcus

Fitsum Berhan, originally of Eritrea, sings along to Lee Greenwood’s “Proud To Be An American” during a naturalization ceremony at the Historic Fifth Street School Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014. Seventy-five people from 26 countries became naturalized U.S. citizens.

New Citizens Sworn in at Fifth Street School

Cesar Angelo Nieto, 4, waves an American flag during a naturalization ceremony at the Historic Fifth Street School Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014. Seventy-five people from 26 countries became naturalized U.S. citizens. Launch slideshow »

For the woman from the Philippines it happened while taking the pledge of allegiance. For the man from Israel it was during the rendition of the national anthem.

The weight of the moment, becoming a citizen of the United States, hit them at different times, but they all ended up shedding tears of happiness eventually.

Wednesday afternoon, at the historic Fifth Street School in downtown Las Vegas, 75 people from 26 countries took the oath of allegiance and received their certificates at a special ceremony marking the celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. The U.S. Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787.

Citizenship ceremonies happen regularly throughout the year, but at this time every year U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services holds special ceremonies to commemorate the federal holiday. More than 27,000 people will become U.S. citizens in more than 160 ceremonies across the country from Sept. 17 to Sept. 23.

At the Las Vegas naturalization ceremony many people hailed from countries that have large populations in Southern Nevada such as Mexico and the Philippines. Scattered throughout the crowd, however, were candidates representing five continents, including new citizens from Hong Kong, Ethiopia, Bulgaria, Afghanistan, Iran, Vietnam, Cuba, Ecuador and Italy.

They all waved small American flags during the songs, and the majority came decked out in formal attire with an emphasis on the colors of their new country.

Marlene Scollon moved from the Philippines to Los Angeles in 2005, and came to Las Vegas, where she has family, in 2010.

“It’s the fulfillment of a dream,” she said after the ceremony. “I like how the U.S. government treats people. During the ceremony I was excited, I was happy. When we did the pledge of allegiance I started crying.”

Click to enlarge photo

New citizens Narelle Norris, originally of Australia, and Wael Naddaf, originally of Israel, pose during a naturalization ceremony at the Historic Fifth Street School Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014. Seventy-five people from 26 countries became naturalized U.S. citizens.

“The United States of America owes its richness and greatness to the light of its citizens,” U.S. District Judge Lloyd George, who led the ceremony, told the crowd. “… As a citizen now, you should cultivate and preserve the worthy aspects of your heritage and traditions. Use them to elevate our society.”

“Virtually all of us are immigrants, and we look to you to burnish the passion and moral fiber that will continue to strengthen this special nation,” he said.

Some of the new citizens lived in the country for decades before taking the final steps to citizenship.

Mexican immigrant Eduardo Garcia, 40, has lived in Las Vegas since 1991 and served in the U.S. Army for four years. The broad-shouldered Nevada firefighter stood in line at the end of the ceremony to get a picture with the judge, accompanied by his U.S. citizen wife and two children.

“It’s a mixture of a lot of emotions,” he said. “I’m happy, I’m proud and I just feel a real appreciation for being able to become a citizen of this country I love.”

Narelle Norris of Australia and Wael Naddaf of Israel, a couple, decided to go through the process together. Norris, in a quirk of scheduling, had her ceremony a week ago but came out again for her boyfriend’s turn. They both teared up during "The Star-Spangled Banner," singing their new country’s anthem for the first time.

“I’ve been here for 19 years and I think if you are going to live in a country it’s important to become a citizen and fully participate,” Norris said. “I’m ready to vote. I want to have my say.”

For Dominik Kuna of Poland, it was the next big moment etched in his memory, just like the day he arrived in United States, “July 15, 2000, at 6:45 p.m.,” he said without hesitation.

“There were a lot of tears. This is one of the biggest days of my life,” Kuna said, sporting a black suit and a tie with red stripes. “As an immigrant who came to change my life for the better, I’m very proud and excited. During the oath it really hit me, I feel like (the United States) is part of me, and for the first time I’m part of it.”

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