Naturalization Ceremony in Wheeling Produces 37 Newly Minted American Citizens
Niamh Coomey Trending
WHEELING -- Thirty-seven people hailing from 22 different countries were naturalized as United States citizens during a ceremony at Wheeling's federal courthouse Friday morning.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone officiated the naturalization ceremony. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., and others gave remarks, each of them emphasizing the bravery and dedication it took for the immigrants to seek out citizenship.
Several speakers mentioned how charged a topic immigration has been in recent political conversation, commending the group of immigrants for going through the bureaucratic channels to become citizens.
Students from the Wheeling Central Catholic Concert Choir performed the national anthem at the opening of the ceremony.
Manchin addressed the group of immigrants first, saying that one side of his family immigrated from Italy in the early 1900s, and the other from Czechoslovakia to create a better future. Manchin commended the immigrants for buying into the U.S. and putting in so much effort to be a part of it. He said that citizenship is something that you own and urged them to take care of the country and preserve its values.
"When you own something, it's something that you cherish. It's probably something that you sacrificed for, you worked hard, you made a commitment," Manchin said.
He emphasized that America is a great experiment, one that experiences ups and downs and that can be "a little bit messy" at times, but people being willing to fight for the equal rights the country touts is what makes it special.
"You see our Lady Justice in our court system. She's blindfolded. She doesn't know who you are. She doesn't care. You have the same access, the same opportunities, the same protections and the same rights," he said.
The 37 immigrants took the oath of naturalization and were called by name one by one and handed official documents of citizenship. Many had family and friends supporting them from the packed court pews, waving miniature American flags and taking photos.
After the official ceremony, several notable figures spoke to the newly naturalized citizens, congratulating them and welcoming them to their citizenship, including a video with remarks from President Joe Biden.
Former U.S. Congressman David B. McKinley, a Wheeling native, spoke next and started by lauding the immigrants for becoming citizens "the correct way."
"Respectfully going through the laborious and bureaucratic process is the first sign that you're going to honor our system of government and our representative democracy," he said.
He thanked them for opting in to help write the next chapter of American democracy.
"You are now Americans. Help us to renew and revitalize that American spirit," McKinley said. "Together, we can demonstrate that America remains that exceptional nation where we can have our differences but still respect one another."
Rhett Dusenbury, a representative for Congressman Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., spoke next, relaying brief remarks from Congressman Mooney, whose mother fled Cuba and sought asylum in the U.S. during Fidel Castro's regime.
Members from the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution also spoke to the newly naturalized citizens.
The Central Catholic Choir closed the ceremony with a rendition of "America The Beautiful."