Rockwell Museum Hosts Naturalization Ceremony
 Seventeen new U.S. citizens were sworn in on Saturday at Norman Rockwell Museum. More photos here. |
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Seventeen new American citizens swore an oath of allegiance with pride and enthusiasm on Saturday morning.
"I feel so excited and so proud to be an American citizen," said Vivan Enchill of Pittsfield. "I have been waiting for so long."
For the third year, the ceremony took place at the Norman Rockwell Museum, surrounded by Rockwell's iconic "Four Freedoms" paintings inspired by the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The freedoms of religion and speech, and from fear and want, are "the ideas our nation was born to represent and defend," said Laurie Norton Moffatt, director of the museum, in welcoming the new citizens and their families to this "life-changing event."
Hailing from 14 countries, the 17 new citizens stood to be sworn in by District Court Judge Frederic Rutberg before a crowd of family and friends.
"Being here this morning, seeing you and your family and friends, filled with enthusiasm, brimming with optimism, greeting the future with big beautiful smiles, makes me more than proud," said the judge. "You chose to adopt us as your new home and you've made the commitment to follow through on the path of citizenship to this moment.
"What you've done not only installs a determination and courage, but literally strengthens all of us with your optimism and your industry."
Hilary Greene, director of the Berkshire Immigrant Center, said about 70 or 80 people become naturalized each year in Berkshire County, adding to the region's diversity and helping offset the population decline.
While the center's mission has expanded, "helping people on their journey to this day remains the most satisfying and rewarding thing that we do," she said.
Holding the swearing-in at the museum is both more celebratory and intimate than administrative locations, Greene said.
"So we always try to tell people when they start their cycle, if they apply in February or March, they can get into the ceremony," she said. "It's such a beautiful room."
The idea of becoming a citizen within the circle of the "Four Freedoms" was on Clarksburg resident Charles Swabey's mind when he decided to go through the process.
"This is very special, it's just been very exciting. ... Wow," said Swabey, who emigrated from the United Kingdom 17 years ago.
Yaling Wang of North Adams arrived here a dozen years ago from South China.
"All my family's here," she said as her reason for immigrating, and now becoming citizen. "I am so excited."
The ceremony was assisted by Chief Court Officer William Bateman, the Dalton American Legion Color Guard and Brooke Mead of the Immigration Center, who sang "America the Beautiful" and the national anthem.
The citizens were presented by Ana Ward, senior immigration services officer from the Lawrence Field office; the emcee was Luis Chaves, director of the Lawrence office.
Chaves also reminded the new citizens of some dos and don'ts [do frame your certificate, don't laminate it] and to get new passports.
Chaves, himself a naturalized citizen, said this was the best part of his job. Each new citizen was "enriching the soup" that is America, he said.
For Rutberg, the ceremony was a bit of bookend, having been sworn in as a district judge in 1994 in the "Four Freedoms" room. With mandatory retirement looming, he expected this was the last time he'd administer the oath.
He encouraged the group to take on the responsibilities of citizenship and participate in their government and let their voices be heard at the ballot box.
The Daughters of the American Revolution were prepared to register the new citizens to vote at a reception following the swearing-in.
Enchill was already making out her registration, following in the footsteps of her husband, for whom she had left Ghana 22 years before.
"I have voted in every election," said Alfred Enchill. "The ladies there, they all know who I am."
Their youngest boy, Alexander, who attends Crosby Elementary, led the gathering in the Pledge of Allegiance. All four - two at Tufts University and another at Westminster in Connecticut - accompanied their father to the polling stations on election days to impress its importance.
Do too many Americans take voting for granted?
"Yes," said brand-new American Vivian Enchill. "It's our civic duty."
Tags: citizenship, immigrant center, norman rockwell museum, swearing in,
