Hundreds become new Americans

Posted at 4:00 PM on July 6, 2011 by Bob Collins (0 Comments)

While many Americans might sleepwalk their way through the occasional playing of the National Anthem, there's no mistaking the hearty singing of the anthem at a U.S. naturalization ceremony.

Today at Bethel University, several hundred new citizens sang as if it meant something to them. A moment later, they said the words from U.S. District Court Judge Ann Montgomery that many have waited a lifetime to say.

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.

After they were sworn in as citizens, Judge Montgomery said the country is like a soup of many ingredients and urged the new Americans to help make it a better-tasting dish.

The majority of new citizens are from eastern Africa.

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