Fri Jul 30 2010
Irene English couldnt stop smiling.
There was a sparkle in her eye that matched the red, white and blue sparkle of the rhinestones on her belt buckle as she sat on a bench in the third-floor courtroom.
This was her big day. English, 39, is now a United States citizen.
"Its great," she said. "Its all great."
English is one of 49 individuals who participated in a naturalization ceremony Friday at the John C. Watts Federal Building.
The ceremony, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, was filled with emotion as people from 21 different nations took an oath pledging their allegiance to America.
"Naturally, there should be some feelings of sadness," U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves said. "But I believe those feelings will fade because you have made a conscious decision to be a part of America."
Reeves explained that by taking the oath the 49 agree to take on the responsibility of being American.
"Im confident each and every one of you will be a proud and responsible citizen of this country," Reeves said.
Cameras operated by proud family members snapped throughout the courtroom as Reeves, along with other naturalization ceremony officials, presented each ceremony participant his or her certificate of citizenship.
For English, shaking hands with the judge and collecting her certificate of citizenship was 12 years in the making.
She came to the U.S. more than a decade ago looking for a life better than the one she had in India, her homeland.
"(I came) for freedom. Its a great opportunity. There are great people here," she said.
She said she knew in America she would be able to find a better job. She said by gaining citizenship shell be able to attend nursing school in Lexington and seek promotion from her current job at a nursing home, also in Lexington.
English, who lives in Nicholasville with her husband Steve, said she likes American food and despite having a disdain for the winter weather, she knows she couldnt live anywhere else.
Anton Samarin, 23, was among the youngest granted citizenship Friday.
A grad-student at the University of Kentucky, Samarin said hes waited 10 years for the moment he could officially call himself American.
"I feel good," Samarin, a Russian native, said.
He said he was the last member of his immediate family to gain American citizenship and that the city life is what he enjoys most about his new country.
"I personally like big cities, there are lots of good landmarks," he said.
Samarin, who aspires to become a physics professor and conduct research, said the ceremony was the first time hes stepped into a courtroom.
"Its pretty neat, the judge was cool," he said of the process.
Samarin said he knew exactly how he was going to celebrate his first day as an American.
"Im going to play the lottery," he said.
Ana Gloria Rondon was shy about answering questions, but, much like English, the smile on her face revealed the 36-year-olds joy.
"I feel excited because that was one of my goals," Rondon said following the ceremony.
A dental assistant in Lexington, Rondon said she left her native Cuba 11 years ago to pursue the American dream.
"(I came) for a better life, for freedom," she said.
Four months ago she began spending more time studying to complete the citizenship test.
Her husband Leonel, also from Cuba, said hes excited for his wifes accomplishment.
"Its very emotional, he said. "She did well, Im really proud of her."
The couple said they now plan to work together to establish citizenship for Leonel.
The citizenship process can take more than a year to complete, and involves getting photographed and submitting an application, getting fingerprinted, interviews, taking an English and civics test and finally taking the oath, according to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services Web site.
There is at least one naturalization ceremony in Frankfort each year, drawing individuals from across central Kentucky to take the oath to become Americans.
For those like English, Samarin and Rondon, its worth it.
"Im proud to be an American," English said.
Judging by her USA pin, flag patterned shirt, belt buckle and smile that goes without saying.
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