New American Citizen!
The swearing in ceremony took place at the Federal Courthouse at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, 21st September, 2006. Thank you all for attending and for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers, and for wearing red, white and blue in my honor. You mean the world to me. Jesse was with me and I could clearly feel his pride in this achievement. I do wish he could have been here in person!! It's our 6th wedding anniversary tomorrow, and I will be having lunch with my parents-in-law and with Sheila, and we will toast Jesse.
posted by Sue-Lynn MB @ 11:45 AM
5 Comments:
At 9/23/2006 11:56 AM,
Sue-Lynn MB said…
Dear Family and Friends
Thursday was a full day. My new, sweet friend, Vicki, came over early and we drove to Tom and Viola’s house. We left with them, before 8:00 a.m. and were at the Federal Courthouse at about 8:15. Tom had a wonderful time seeing all his old friends from the days when he worked in the Sheriff’s Department.
We made our way to the second floor where guests took their seats and Petitioners (that’s me) handed in paperwork and our “resident” cards. Then we were seated in the front, and I was in the best front seat. Firstly, we each received a signed letter from President Bush, congratulating us on becoming new American citizens.
“Dear Fellow American:
I am pleased to congratulate you on becoming a United States citizen. You are now a part of a great and blessed Nation. I know your family and friends are proud of you on this special day.
Americans are united across the generations by grand and enduring ideals. The grandest of these ideals is an unfolding promise that everyone belongs, that everyone deserves a chance, and that no insignificant person was ever born. Our country has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by principles that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests, and teach us what it means to be citizens. Every citizen must uphold these principles. And every new citizen, by embracing these ideals, makes our country more, not less, American.
As you begin to participate fully in our democracy, remember that what you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to serve your new Nation, beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens building communities of service and a Nation of character. Americans are generous and strong and decent not because we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves. When this spirit of citizenship is missing, no government program can replace it. When this spirit is present, no wrong can stand against it.
Welcome to the joy, responsibility, and freedom of American citizenship. God bless you, and God bless America.
Sincerely,
George W. Bush.”
Finally, the Honorable Janis Graham Jack entered the Jury Room and addressed us. The Immigration and Naturalization Officer, Felix Velasquez, mentioned each country by name, from which a new citizen had come. There were 60 petitioners being sworn in, from 22 countries. We each stood as our country was called. Mexico was called last and that group contained the largest number of new Americans.
Then the Veterans Band Color Guard presented the flag. We all remained standing and turned to the flag, while the National Anthem was sung so beautifully by Robert Padilla, CSO. I had tears streaming down my face because I could feel Jesse’s presence so strongly, and he was so proud of me. For me, it was an extremely bittersweet ceremony.
We then all took the Oath of Citizenship and said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Naturalization Oath of Allegiance
to the United States of America
Oath:
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to The Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Then Judge Jack introduced two speakers, both Newly Naturalized Citizens. One was from the Philippines and told her personal story. The other was from Mexico and spoke about her struggle and her dreams.
Thereafter, we all were presented, individually, with our Certificate of Naturalization and a small American flag, and were encouraged to have photographs taken with the Judge.
Many of my friends managed to attend the ceremony. My neighbor surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of red roses, blue irises and white baby’s breath. A gorgeous bouquet! It was so good to see everyone there and was an incredibly poignant and emotion-filled morning.
As we made our way out of the courthouse, we had the opportunity to register as voters. I did. I will be voting in the November elections.
From there, we made our way to the Art Center at the Bayfront and Tom, Viola, Sheila, and myself and friends Vicki, Dorothy, Jackie and Lloyd, who drove in from San Antonio, as well as Cheri and Marvin who are also new friends, had lunch and cheesecake at Jezebel’s! I was spoilt and received American teddy bears, sparkly brooches (US flags and US apple,) and also received American-themed jewellery and two flags: The US flag as also the Stars and Bars, from Louanne and Rick in South Carolina. Although less well known than the "Confederate Battle Flags",the Stars and Bars was used as the official flag of the Confederacy from March 1861 to May of 1863. The pattern and colors of this flag did not distinguish it sharply from the Stars and Stripes of the Union. Consequently, considerable confusion was caused on the battlefield.
As this is also the start of Rosh Hashanah, and as Thursday was my "birth day" as an American, perhaps this is my spiritual rebirth too. Someone pointed out that Jesse’s last gift to me was citizenship and that this is a new start for me. Perhaps it is. I miss him terribly, though, and keep putting one step in front of the other, because that’s all I can do. My thoughts are with all my family and friends at this time, and I send everyone all my love. God bless.
At 9/23/2006 9:03 PM,
Sue-Lynn MB said…
Granmarnie, thank you so much for your validation and your love and caring. Means the world to me. I love you too! God bless and hugs to you and to Kiddykaht!
At 9/25/2006 6:12 PM,
Sue-Lynn MB said…
Dear Beth
Thank you so much for your validations and good wishes. Yes, that was a picture of us on our wedding day. It was our 6th wedding anniversary yesterday. It was a very quiet Sunday. I had lunch with my mother-in-law, and Jesse's previous wife. It was nice to be just us "girls" for a change. We had "white zinfandel" wine. I had a glass only and got rather tiddly. I toasted those of us who WERE there, and those of us who were NOT there! I had to nap when I got home, and when I woke up, I was feeling terribly lonely and extremely depressed. Sundays are not good days around here. I don't know how long it's going to take before this awful emptiness begins to fade. It's just so painful. I get tired of being strong, Beth. I want to lean on my husband for a while. That will never happen again. :(
I have to think that his final gift to me was my citizenship. I woke up though, and thought, "Here I am, an American citizen, and all my family are not with me!" I felt SO ALONE! I guess it will take a long while to start again and try to build another life!! Sometimes I wonder whether I've got what it takes to start yet again!!
At 10/06/2006 8:46 PM,
Sue-Lynn MB said…
Y'all jiggled and wobbled... for a minute there, I thought it was ME doing that under my dress!!! LOL!
Thank you so much, Cat and Beth. Your encouragement and support is just so wonderful to me. I appreciate each and every word and sentiment. God bless! LOVE and HUGS from me.
At 12/18/2006 9:59 PM,
Anonymous said…
Sue Lynn, I guess I must've said things to you on the blog. Sorry I didn't say anything here.
Congratulations to the New Citizen!! I agree with Cat & Beth. They say things so much better than I can. You are strong & have come a long was in the past few months. Keep on "keeping on"!
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