SALT LAKE CITY — New citizens beamed with excitement as they displayed their naturalization records to proud family members Friday at This Is the Place Heritage Park.

"I advise you and admonish you to let freedom ring in your lives, by your love and devotion to this great nation," U.S. District Court Judge David Sam told those in the packed event hall. "It is a great nation largely because of citizens such as you, who should understand the many blessings of freedom and liberty."

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administered the Oath of Allegiance as the final step for 152 immigrants to become American citizens.

The oath has immigrants resolve any allegiance toward their former state entities and promise to align their loyalty to the United States by following its guiding laws and principles.

The new citizens originated from 52 countries, including Burma, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Guatemala, Iraq, Peru, the Philippines and Mexico.

For many of them, the road to citizenship has been long and challenging, having to overcome language and cultural barriers in addition to completing all of the paperwork and requirements mandated to become a U.S. citizen. But the group remains optimistic about the opportunities ahead.

"It's a pleasure for me to come to a country where I feel that my dreams can come true, being able to go to bed in peace and not being afraid that when I wake up, that something bad is going to happen to me," said Camellia Miller, who immigrated from Mexico.

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As part of the ceremony, the new citizens were able to enjoy learning more about American history, patriotic music and modern-day patriots.

"It's exciting knowing so many things from the Daughters of the (American) Revolution and the people who have come before us. I think it's amazing that this nation has been built for so many immigrants," said new U.S. citizen Yazmin Munoz, from Guatemala.

Munoz, who has been in the U.S. for nearly 23 years, has a son serving in the Navy and a daughter who graduated from the University of Utah.

Throughout the ceremony, speakers emphasized the importance of civic engagement and that those taking the oath would become the founding ancestors of their posterity's freedom.

"Never be intimidated the first time you vote," said Frances Merrill, of the Daughters of the American Revolution. "We must become involved to keep America strong. We all know that diversity has made this country great and that your opinion is very important."

The citizens were also reminded that while America is filled with various cultures and races, the concepts of opportunity, equality and liberty bring citizens together.

"You should understand that freedom is not free, but that it requires something of all who bear the flag," Sam said near the conclusion of the ceremony. "It brings to all that love and nurture it human dignity. It allows you by your choice and initiative the opportunity to follow your own destiny and with some degree of certainty — depending on your conduct and accountability — to achieve your highest and fullest potential."

After the ceremony, the new citizens waved their small U.S. flags and took photos with family and friends, simply proud to be Americans.

Cassidy Hansen is currently studying both Political Science and Communications at Brigham Young University, while working as an intern at the Deseret News. Contact her at chansen@deseretnews.com

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