30 people naturalized on 38th anniversary of National Citizenship Day

Thirty new citizens from 14 different countries took their oaths of citizenship Monday during a ceremony at U.S. District Court in Bangor.

The naturalization ceremony marked the 38th anniversary of National Citizenship Day and the 203rd anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.

In granting citizenship to the petitioners, U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby read from the legislation signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1952 that invited the populace to observe National Citizenship Day “with appropriate ceremonies.”

“I can’t think of a more appropriate ceremony” than to welcome new citizens, Hornby said.

Clutching a small American flag and her citizenship papers, Kazimiera Szczypiorkowski of Bangor, formerly of Poland, said after the ceremony, “I feel great — I don’t believe I made it. … I’ve been waiting for this for 19 years.”

Wearing his blue uniform, U.S. Air Force Sgt. Michael Rooney of Portsmouth, N.H., said he enlisted in the military in May 1987 as a resident alien.

Rooney, a former Irish citizen, said, “You can’t re-enlist if you’re not a citizen.”

Ironically, a group of seven Polish people charged with illegal entry and smuggling aliens across the U.S.-Canadian border was awaiting a detention hearing in U.S. District Court Monday.

The group had been arrested earlier this month in Houlton.

Hornby and newly appointed U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James Haines entered the courtroom accompanied by a military honor guard.

The new citizens were introduced by J.B. Hilliard, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization area port director from Madawaska, and the oath was administered. Those present also recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Guest speaker Haines talked about the United States being a land of diversity, which “is really the strength of our country,” and emphasized the importance of each citizen contributing to their community.

U.S. Sen. George J. Mitchell, originally invited to address the new citizens, was unable to attend the ceremony. Instead, he sent a letter, which was expected to be distributed to each person.

Mitchell, a former U.S. District judge, expressed his enjoyment at taking part in naturalizaion ceremonies, “because my mother was an immigrant, and my father was the orphaned son of immigrants.”

Those who took the oath of citizenship included: Elijahu Mirochnik, formerly of Israel; Erdogan Kiran, Turkey; Ivonne Claudia Baker, Italy; Patricia Lola St. Louis, Canada; Osmonnie Mao Erat, Cambodia; France Crowley, Canada; Barbara Brigitte Entzminger, West Germany; Marilyn Bernice Eremita, Canada; and Sin Cha Candelaira, Korea.

Also, Yong Suk Moreland, South Korea; Catharine Carmel Marithew, Ireland; Lorenza Pingul McCoy, Philippines; Phyllis Marie Jordan, Canada; Elizabeth Jozefa Squadra, Poland; Grace Lily Cox, Canada; Fernand Adrien Gregoire, Canada; Ingrid Archer, Canada; Maria Teresa Elliott, Poland; and Violet Marie Dube, Canada.

Also, Mary Day, Canada; Krystyna Ewa Wiernek, Poland; Sariel Herrera Barrera, Philippines; Kimberly Suk Rickards, South Korea; Antonio Jose De Andrade, Portugal; Susan Tan Hutchins, Singapore; Hung Minh Bui, Vietnam; Nina Johanna Person, Finland; and Jeffrey Taylor Bowell, Canada.