Italy, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, India, Brazil, Belize, Israel, Sierra Leone, South Korea, Cambodia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and the Philippians — those were the 14 countries represented by 22 individuals who passed through the doors into Marlton Elementary School on April 22.
However, look at the same 22 individuals not even an hour later as they left the school, and one would see only citizens United States of America, albeit smiling ones.
The smiles came as family and friends watched as those from different lands came together for an official naturalization ceremony in which 22 individuals took their naturalization oath of allegiance and officially concluded their journey to becoming U.S. citizens.
The ceremony also served an instructional purpose, as for the past several weeks, fourth-grade students at the school had been studying the history of immigration to the United States and the naturalization process as part of their social studies curriculum.
As the ceremony got underway, Keith Dorr, a supervisory immigration services officer from the Department of Homeland Security, who has children in the district, welcomed the citizens-to-be, as well as the students.
Dorr explained that although some of those present were finally becoming citizens of America, the country had already been their home for many years as immigration precedes naturalization.
“I want to make one thing very clear about these people, none of them are brand new to this country,” Dorr said. “They’ve all been here a very long time, some of them over 30 years, a couple of them close to 40 years. This is their home.”
Two such people Dorr spoke of were Massimo Epifanio and Rosanna Scotto, a couple from Italy who moved to America 14 years ago and now live in Evesham where their multiple children attend school.
Epifanio said the two can feel American now, and had trouble finding the words to feelings on finally becoming a U.S. citizen.
“This is something new for us. It’s very, I don’t even know how to express myself, it’s very exciting,” Epifanio said.
Scotto agreed, and said it was a happy day for the two of them and their children.
“They are very excited,” Scotto said. “They all said ‘congratulations.’”
Another Evesham family who officially become citizens at the ceremony where Alvin and Maribel Pale and their son Stephen, a Cherokee High School senior, who originally came to the United States from the Philippines about nine years ago.
Stephen said he felt good about his official status as a United State citizen and the many opportunities it offered to him as opposed to being merely a resident.
“I can vote now, and that’s really cool, so I’m just waiting for the next election and I’m going to read up on my politicians and see who I like and make a vote because I know that’s a really big deal,” he said.
Alvin echoed his son’s sentiments and described it as a dream come true to experience all the great privileges of being an American citizen compared to the difficult living conditions of the Phllippines.
“Once you become a part of this country and have the privilege of working and just having that opportunity to earn and provide for your family, you can see your kids growing up and maturing in the knowledge and value of having that privilege,” Alvin said.
Maribel said she was touched by something said by President Obama in a video the crowd watched during the ceremony.
“He said that this is now our home, a place that we can honor and love and serve, and I just love that feeling that now it’s not only that I get to live here but I can serve this country and love it like my own,” Maribel said.
