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The sun was shining upon the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site on June 30 as hundreds of people gathered to watch their loved ones officially become United States citizens.
Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana presided over the ceremony.
“Whatever it was that put you on your path to become American citizens, whatever special dreams you had that inspired your efforts and focused your energies and strengthened your resolve, today, you’re finally coming to the end to the goal,” Barker said.
Barker noted the commitment it takes to become a U.S. citizen and praised the new Americans for putting in the work.
“You are welcomed here, and you belong here,” she said.
Zachary Myers, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, made the motion to administer the oath of citizenship.
Before proceeding with the oath, Barker invited children in attendance to pass out American flags to each new citizen. Immigration Services Officer Nycole Tramble called out the name of each country represented and asked the new citizens from those countries to stand and receive their flags.
Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker (right) shakes hands with a new U.S. citizen at the June 30 naturalization ceremony. (IL photo/Alexa Shrake)
Members of the Caroline Scott Harrison Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution provided cookies and lemonade for the ceremony. (IL photo/Alexa Shrake)
The League of Women Voters offered resources to help the new citizens register to vote. (IL photo/Alexa Shrake)
Goodies and memorabilia were available to the new citizens. (IL photo/Alexa Shrake)
Friends and family gathered to celebrate with the new American citizens. (IL photo/Alexa Shrake)
In all, 39 countries were recognized among the 98 new citizens.
The oath was then administered by Roger Sharpe, clerk of the Indiana Southern District Court.
Next, representing The International Center in Indianapolis, Priscilla Vansetti Machado presented a flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., to the oldest of the new citizens: Claudia Munoz Estrada, 89, from Mexico.
“You bring your own individuality and unique qualities to this country of opportunity,” Machado said. “Your courage, your experiences contribute to this nation’s history.”
Dennis Sasso, the longtime rabbi for the Congregation Beth-El-Zedeck in Indianapolis, spent his last day of work before retirement at the ceremony, 36 years after becoming a U.S. citizen himself.
“Here I received a valuable education, married and found the joys of family life as an immigrant and naturalized citizen,” Sasso said. “I welcome you to this noble experiment, the United States of America.”
A native of the Republic of Panama, Sasso told the crowd, “My family had lived in the Caribbean for generations, expelled from Europe because of oppressive politics and religious fanaticism.”
Hoosier and Grammy-winning singer Sylvia McNair then performed “Your Home,” which she had commissioned just for a naturalization ceremony the previous year when the Sarah Evans Barker Citizenship Plaza was dedicated.
In his remarks, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said, “The city of Indianapolis is committed to making residents of every background at all times feel welcome and supportive. I encourage you all to take advantage of the many resources that are available here, today and otherwise, to make Indianapolis your great home.”
Hogsett added that becoming American citizens builds connections between the United States and the new citizens’ home countries.
“Today, each of you lay a thread stretching from this nation to another part of the world,” he said. “While each American journey is unique, they all have led us here to create one nation.”
The ceremony also included comments from Kimball Harrison Morsman, a great-great-grandson of President Benjamin Harrison. He noted that Ellis Island, home to the Statue of Liberty and a symbol of American immigration, opened in 1892, during Harrison’s presidency.
“I think President Harrison would be thrilled that the site here is being used for the naturalization ceremony,” Morsman said.
Jaqueline Dominguez Juarez, 20, from Mexico, led the Pledge of Allegiance as the youngest new citizen.
McNair closed the ceremony with one last song, “Impossible Dream.”
“Thank you so much for dreaming a big dream, for having patience with the U.S. legal system and for loving your new country, because you are certainly loved in return,” she said.
Barker concluded by offering advice to the new citizens that she received from her mother: Remember who you are and look for ways to be helpful.
“Congratulations and welcome home,” she said.
Representatives of Indiana congressmen, the governor and local bar associations lined up to give the new citizens mementos and materials to help them as new citizens. Also, Barker brought sparklers for the new citizens and handed them their certificates of naturalization as they were called up by name.
After the ceremony, the new citizens mingled on the newly-renovated lawn of the presidential site. Members of the Caroline Scott Harrison Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution provided cookies and lemonade.
Also, the League of Woman Voters provided voter registration assistance for the new citizens. While not everyone registers immediately, league representatives said almost all new citizens do.
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