Thread by @benwikler

Time for a little restoration-of-faith-in-best-of-my-country experience: I’m about to watch a naturalization ceremony.

Everyone about to become a US citizen gets a flag.

The room is packed, diverse, and cheerful. An official is telling us that phot a won’t be permitted during the ceremony—just before and after—and folks are scrambling to take pictures. Lots of kids here, dressed to the nines, ready to see their parents naturalize.

Crowd starting to hush before the naturalization ceremony begins. “Once the judge comes in, no pictures!”

An official hands out the program for the naturalization ceremony.

Honor guard prepares to enter.

First speaker at the mic: “I’m here from the Department of State.” Explains how to get a passport. No mention of new boss.

Second speaker: League of Women Voters.

“In about 45 minutes, you’re about to become very important people. You’ll become American citizens, with the right to vote.”

“I’m the seventh of nine children of two naturalized citizens from Guyana. We expect you to vote.”

“People fought and died for your right to vote. A lot of people, especially in the South, still can’t vote. It hasn’t been so long that women and people of color have been able to vote. It’s incredibly important. These elections coming up affect everything you care about.”

Third speaker is an employment lawyer who explains how to defend yourself if you’re discriminated against.

Fourth speaker—this is actually all happening before official ceremony begins—explains that minor children of folks who are naturalizing today will themselves become citizens at the same time. But only get registered if they turn in a form. Don’t lose that form!

I’m very excited about this ceremony, but baby seems relaxed about it.

Honor guard comes in. Presentation of colors. National anthem. Officers march out.

Judge enters, explains she was just sworn in to federal bench in January and it’s her first naturalization ceremony—“but don’t worry, your oath will count!”

Judge says people from 46 countries will become citizens here today.

Speaker from Daughters of the American Revolution. Tells story of first census, in 1790, when virtually nobody had been born a citizen. “This country was built by immigrants. This country needs you. May you love your new country.”

Retired Judge John Facciola is the featured speaker. Begins speech in Italian. Explains that that’s his own heritage. At time his grandparents left Southern Italy, it was an area of deep poverty; his family was “little more than serfs,” working land they didn’t own.

Judge Facciola’s paternal grandfather lost his family to a shipwreck during trip to America. His son, the judge’s father, was orphaned at 14. Moved into YMCA for a while.

Judge notes that, when his maternal grandfather tried to immigrate to US, there were restrictions on number of Italians who could come here. A member of Congress said in a speech that this was because Italians weren’t “civilized.”

“I guess Botticelli was from Norway.”

In the 1920s, judge’s mother left school at age 14 to wrap candy in a factory. Judge has no memory of ever eating a meal with his mother as a kid—always working.

Maternal grandmother had 17 kids. 15 survived, raised their families near each other in NY tenements. Friend would ask “are you having company over for dinner or is it just the 40 of you?”

Judge tells the story of the day his life changed: when he got a library card.

Devoured books. Got into a great, free Jesuit high school in NY—Regis. Got scholarships to college, then Georgetown Law School—where, now retired from federal bench, he teaches today.

“Now comes the tough part: you’ve got to do the work to make sure the circle is not broken. You’ve got to go to the PTA meetings. Fight for policies that ensure adequate schools where teachers are paid a living salary. Fight to make our schools safe.”

“At some point, you will sit next to someone who says that we are spending too much on public schools. You can mark this person down as an idiot.”

“You are now part of the American story. My story is one of millions. Now you’ve got to add yours.”

Quotes George Washington, himself quoting scripture: “For happily the Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance... ‘every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.’”

Urges all to preserve their own cultures so they can give their gifts to their children and new country. Ends, as he began, in Italian. Moving, powerful speech from the honorable John Facciola. Whew.

Judge now reading the rolls, each new citizen-to-be rising as name is read, naming each’s county of origin.

Ethiopia. Nigeria. Jamaica. El Salvador. Germany. Cuba. Cameroon. Eritrea. United Kingdom. Pakistan. Peru. Canada. Guatemala. Lebanon. Syria. Republic of Korea. Bulgaria.

Trinidad and Tobago. Sierra Leone. Brazil. Philippines. Nicaragua. Vietnam. Eritrea. Iran. Bosnia. China. Spain. Israel.

Everyone standing straight and proud.

“Your honor, there are 123 applicants for naturalization. It has been determined that each applicant is eligible.”

Judge grants the motion. “This is the big moment.” Applicants stand. Right hands raised. 123 women and men repeat the oath, sentence by sentence, after the judge:

Judge: “Congratulations, and let me be the first to welcome you as my fellow Americans.”

All rise for Pledge of Allegiance.

A board member from the women’s bar association greets everyone and invites them to a reception. Voice cracks as she says “I can almost hear 123 hearts beating with happiness and pride.”

Says “Congratulations” in a dozen languages.

Judge: “You are now a citizen of a country in which every citizen is equal under the law.”

Judge: “Please know that it doesn’t make any difference when you became a citizen. There is only one class of citizen in this country. It doesn’t matter when you came to the United States. What matters is what you do after you become a citizen.”

Judge: “Today, there are 123 more reasons to be proud of this country. And you are those reasons.”

Ceremony complete. Thunderous applause. Some new citizens waving their flags furiously. Families standing—the family in front of me is Syrian—to make eye contact with their loved ones. “Don’t forget your certificates! Your only proof you’re a citizen!” bellows official. Laughter.

Time to take this baby home. This was all I’d hoped and imagined it would be, and more. Find a naturalization ceremony near you by googling—they’re monthly in DC.

Thanks for following along. Let’s make this country worthy of its newest citizens.