A gathering of proud citizens, their families, and friends gathered on Friday for the 71st naturalisation ceremony. The event took place in the same room where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous “House Divided” speech in the year 1858.
After successfully completing an interview process and demonstrating proficiency in English and American history, 61 individuals from 24 different countries were awarded citizenship.
This was the final step in the citizenship process for these individuals.
The ceremony was held one day after a similar celebration in Chicago, where over 700 people became citizens of the United States. U.S. District Judge Richard Mills and U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen McNaught welcomed all participants to the event.
At the naturalisation ceremony that Mills will be presiding over, he said, “Today, we welcome 61 new United States citizens from 24 different countries around the globe who have chosen our country over all of the other 194 in the world in which to live, work, and raise their families.”
The new citizens come from 24 different countries around the world. “You have our utmost respect.”
Mills and McNaught narrated the journey of the city’s most famous resident, Abraham Lincoln, beginning generations earlier with Lincoln’s great-great-great-great grandfather.
This occurred at the same time that these immigrants were making their way to Springfield.
According to the explanation provided by McNaught, Samuel Lincoln took part in the Great Migration in the 1600s by travelling from England to Massachusetts.
This was during the time when many Puritans left for the New World. She added that before moving west to Kentucky, the Lincoln family had amassed a sizeable portion of the Hingham population in that location.
After making their statements, candidates then swore the oath of citizenship, swearing to uphold and defend the Constitution against any and all foes, whether they be home or foreign.
After that, the candidates were awarded their official citizenship certificates by Mills and McNaught.
This completed the naturalisation process. After the event, citizens had the opportunity to register with Social Security and the Illinois Board of Elections, respectively, in order to become eligible to vote.
The Springfield Lawyers Chorus, which consisted of seven lawyers in all and had one conductor and one pianist to accompany them, performed at the beginning and end of the event.
Roger Holmes, who currently serves as the director of the chorus and who was contacted by Mills 35 years ago regarding the formation of an ensemble, Holmes took on the challenge despite the fact that he did not have any credentials as a director at the time. Since then, he has not looked back.
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According to him, the fact that he has been to so many ceremonies throughout the course of his life has in no way diminished the significance of any of them.
According to Holmes, “These celebrations get more special with each passing year.”
