(music) This is the first time I’ve been to the
United States Archives to administer the oath to newest Americans.
This is the fun part of being a United States judge, to stand in this historic building,
especially for me a native Washingtonian, and to administer the oath to our newest Americans.
It doesn’t get much better than this.
And that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation, or purpose of evasion,
so help me god.
Congratulations!
(applause) We the People of the United States, in order
to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity…
Behind me is the Constitution, signed two hundred and twenty-seven years ago today.
Here at the National Archives, we have over 12 billion pages of records.
Becoming American citizens make you now part of the National Archives, too.
Your naturalization records will become part of our holdings.
In our research rooms across the country, people comb through these records to piece
together the details of their own family histories.
The National Archives tells everyone’s story and we will tell yours.
To become an American, I learn more than ever.
It’s a privilege and it’s a privilege that comes with many rights.
But it’s also a privilege that comes with rights, but also, it’s going to be demanding
alot from everyone of you, from everyone of us new immigrants.
I do believe we are here not only for the American dream but for the new American Dream
and I tell you that to be an American is a privilege, but these just not conveys rights
but responsibilities and we have an obligation, especially us immigrants, to give back.
People like you are going to be bringing hope and are going to be bringing improvements,
one neighborhood at a time.
As American citizens, these are your obligations.
Indeed, you have an obligation to your family, to your community, to the country considered
yours when summoned to appear and you should freely accept that responsibility, because
if you do not, you should be reluctant to criticize our system of justice.
So I leave you with those two final thoughts: the right to vote and the right to serve as
jurors are rights that you our newest Americans must exercise.
God bless you and God bless this wonderful country, the United States of America and
it’s truly better now because we have you as new Americans.
Thank you and good luck to you!
Today is kind of like one of those days where you realize that you’re becoming part of
another society.
I’ve been living here since 2006, so that’s 8 years, but now I’ve really been kind of
recognized as part of the society, which is really cool and really what I like to be part
of.
Today is a special day, because so many years I’ve been waiting for this day and now I
am happy and a citizen.
I think one of the main stages that I’ve taken in my life, this is one of this major
transition moments and I can’t wait to see what exactly lies ahead.
Today for me is both a privilege to become an American citizen, but it’s also a responsibility,
now you become an American.
The ceremony, the way you walk into the space and the Rotunda, and just to be in the same
presence as very important documents, and it made me but I’m sure the other individuals
who became American today to feel just wonderful.
I loved it!
It makes it memorable, seeing the documents behind and then pledging allegiance to the
flags in front, just give it a whole different, intimate experience and also brought about
significance that it has been a process, that there are people who have gone before me and
I’m just continuing on that journey, so that was something special for me.