OXFORD, Miss. - They came from 52 different countries spanning the
globe. Their differences were vast - from native languages to long-held
customs - but each of the 198 people who took the oath of citizenship
Tuesday at the University of Mississippi left with the common bond of
being an American.
This year marked the first time the U.S. District Court of Northern
Mississippi has held the ceremony at a location besides the courthouse,
but the move was necessary due to the unusually large number of
applicants.
Generally, just 50 to 60 people participate in the ceremonies which are
held three or four times a year. However, Tuesday's event, held in UM's
Fulton Chapel, marked the most new citizens sworn in at one time in the
court's history, said Judge Michael P. Mills, chief judge for the U.S.
District Court in Oxford.
David Crews, clerk for the federal court, said an added motivation for moving the ceremony to the UM campus was to make it part of the prelude to the first 2008 presidential debate. The debate, set for Sept. 26, is to be held at UM's Gertrude C. Ford Center for Performing Arts.
Chancellor Robert C. Khayat, who delivered the principal address, said the ceremony was personally moving because his own family immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 1894.
"So, the message of my family experience is that freedom and opportunity are the key elements of life as a citizen of the United States," he told the crowd. "Today, your ticket to the future is handed to you, and you join 300 million Americans who enjoy freedom never before experienced by mankind."
Following the event, Khayat said the ceremony also served as a reminder of the freedom all Americans enjoy.
"It was a moving experience to realize that all of these 198 people have spent many years here and now are citizens," he said. "For those of us who are blessed to have been born in America, it is a reminder of how valuable our liberty is and of our responsibility to protect this country."
Many of the nearly 200 new citizens exiting the chapel Tuesday morning expressed excitement over gaining an important rite of passage - the right to vote in American elections.
Among them, Gregorio Galvaln, 42, expressed excitement about gaining the rights afforded to American citizens. He was born in Mexico and moved to the United States 20 years ago to find a better job and life for himself. He came alone without family members or friends and found it difficult to learn the language and customs of this new homeland.
However, after two decades, he said becoming a citizen has been well worth the wait.
"I went to bed at 8 last night, but I only slept two or three hours," he said, a grin stretching across his face. "I was so excited and nervous, too."
For him, it is about pledging allegiance to a country that has changed his life.
"I love this country," he said. "This country has given me a lot, and I want to be able to give back by voting and being a citizen."
Alecia Williams, 26, who moved to the United States 12 years ago with her mother, agreed that voting in November's election was a primary motivation in going through the naturalization process.
"It feels really, really good to be able to vote, especially in this election," she said, noting the historic inclusion of the first black presidential candidate.
Megan Hewitt, a 20-year-old pharmacy student from Canada, joined her mother, Marcia, and father, Murraw, in taking the oath of citizenship. Her younger sister, Margaret, was not able to participate because she is still a minor.
"I am so excited and glad to be able to be part of the upcoming election," Megan said. "I've been joking around with my friends about not caring about the election because I couldn't vote anyway; now, I get to be involved."
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