Elizabeth Pantoleon (left to right), Diosaira Olivo and Maria Naranjo are about to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States during a naturalization ceremony held by the U.S. Immigration Service at Middlesex County College Oct. 1. PHOTOS BY FRANK WOJCIECHOWSKI Surrounded by friends and family, 46 Middlesex County residents took the Oath of Allegiance to become the newest citizens of the United States of America.
“It means a lot, you know, being an American citizen now,” Amilier A Wildman, originally from Granada, said. “You have the ability to do a lot as an American … and I am just really happy and have been waiting for this day for a long time.”
The Naturalization Ceremony, held by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Oct. 2 at the Middlesex County College Performing Arts Center in Edison, included applicants for citizenship representing 16 different countries from around the world, including Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Georgia, Granada, India, Jordan, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
Meng-Fong Lee of Taiwan smiles for the camera after he was sworn in as a U.S. citizen. Those taking part in the ceremony live in local towns such as Edison, Carteret, Fords, Perth Amboy, Monmouth Junction, Woodbridge, Bound Brook, South Plainfield, Iselin, North Brunswick, New Brunswick and East Brunswick.
John E. Thompson, Newark district director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, told participants they have come a long way to pledge their allegiance to the United States.
“Historically Oaths of Allegiance were made to a person, a king, a queen a foreign prince, the Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. is not made to a person, you are making an oath to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the U.S.”
Claudia Mendez receives her certificate of citizenship from John E. Thompson, Newark District Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Oath of Allegiance was administered by Randi C. Borgen, Newark field office director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Dennis Anthony Penny Jr., a Middlesex County College graduate and U. S. Navy veteran.
“You have many things in common … and you have a lot that is not in common, but today you stand as one to become citizens of the greatest country civilization has ever seen,” Thompson said.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, a congratulatory video message from President Barack Obama and a video presentation of “America the Beautiful,” participants were called up one by one, waving American flags to sounds of applause as they received their certificate of citizenship.
Wildman said since she came to America, there have been many steps to follow to become a citizen, including obtaining an employment card, getting a Green Card, officially applying for and taking the official U.S. Citizenship Test.
“It is kind of nerve-wracking just waiting for that official letter to come in the mail,” she said. “Everyday I was just checking the mail, constantly checking online to see if my letter was sent out and from that moment when I got that letter I was really ecstatic about it and I am very happy to be here.”
Yvonnie Geva, of who came to the states from the Philippines three years ago, said she has dreamed about becoming an American citizen since she was a child.
“I think America is a very, very great dream,” she said. “Since I was a child I dreamed about America, and I praised God and I feel I am so blessed to now have this opportunity.”
In the Philippines, Geva said she held a degree in nursing, but did not practice for a number of reasons.
“There we study hard but the salary is just cheap … so that is why I feel so very blessed and fortunate to have this opportunity to come here and I am just very, very happy,” she said. “There is a lot of joy in my heart and I will not forget this entire day or this opportunity and this blessing from God.”
During the ceremony, Middlesex County College President Joann LaPerla-Morales, also told a personal story about her family’s immigration to the states.
“To be an American means many things to many people,” she said. “For my grandparents who came from Italy, it meant the opportunity to earn a better life for them and for their sons.”
LaPerla-Morales said while her father had to overcome many difficulties including learning English, he continued to believe that his children could have a better life and should value every opportunity that came their way.
“My father taught me that to be an American I should be proud … and I should value the opportunities this country offers,” she said. “I am here today as president of Middlesex County College because I had the opportunity to attend public education that allowed me to follow my dreams …”
LaPerla-Morales said though the applicants’ journeys to becoming citizens differ, “We all leave here today as citizens of the United States of America … and I wish you all happiness, liberty and much health and wealth in the future.”