Mt. Vernon Register-News

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January 4, 2012

Naturalization ceremony to take place

By RORYE O’CONNOR rorye.oconnor@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — More than 40 people will become American citizens on Thursday during a naturalization ceremony.

Judge Kenneth Myers will hold the naturalization ceremony at Mt. Vernon Township High School at 11 a.m. Thursday.

“We did the ceremony at the art museum a couple of times, and that was an excellent venue,” he said. “We thought by bringing it to the school, it would give the students an opportunity to observe the process of becoming a citizen.”

MVTHS graduates Mary Jane Chesley, Mt. Vernon Mayor, and Judge David Overstreet, will give remarks during the ceremony, Myers said.

The ceremony will begin with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, Myers said, and then the candidates for citizenship will be taken through a ceremony that all people across the country seeking citizenship perform.

“A United States attorney will indicate that the candidates qualify, and then they will give their oath of citizenship,” Myers explained. “Then we will pass a microphone around and give them the opportunity to say anything they’d like to say. Sometimes it’s serious, sometimes it’s humorous, but many people just say that they are happy to be a U.S. citizen.”

The MVTHS a capella choir will perform. To close the ceremony, the new citizens will be presented with their certificates and take a photo.

The event is open to the public, and Myers said he has encouraged MVTHS Principal Wes Olson to allow as many students to attend as possible.

He said he believes it’s important for students to see the naturalization ceremony because most were born American citizens and don’t understand the effort one must take to become a citizen.

“It gives them a better appreciation of what it means to be American citizens,” he said. “You have to pass a difficult exam and learn English, and for some of these people, it may have taken years. You have to work very hard to get your citizenship.”

He said he hoped by seeing the advantages they have by being born Americans, they will have a greater appreciation for what it means.

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