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MOAB -- Movements of underground deposits, flooding, evaporation, wind erosion and millions of years have made the rocks and Arches of Moab a national monument. Each rock has its own history; through the years, they has been transformed, and today, they stand with majesty, royalty and beauty.
In this stunning setting of orange and yellow rocks and under a beautiful blue sky, 24 immigrants, who came to the United States under different circumstances, facing challenges that have molded their personalities, have vowed to honor and defend the land, that has welcomed them, to protect it from all enemies, international or domestic during the citizenship ceremony in Arches Park in Moab.
Laura Rodriguez came when he was 14 years old, crossing the border at Nogales undocumented, along with her mother and another brother.
It's sometimes a long process from when you start your journey in another country. You came here for a million different reasons, each one of you have your own story.
–Mary U. Kruger
Her family suffered a tragedy, so they decided it was better to be near her father and husband. The challenges they faced at that time were so great that it was impossible for them to live apart and wait for the regular process for obtaining the visa.
"For us it was better to pay a fine and stay in the United States undocumented, while we waited for the visa," emphasized Rodríguez.
Eleven years later, in the midst of her education to graduate as a nurse at Dixie college, she raised her hand and vowed to become a US citizen.
The naturalization ceremony for U.S. citizenship, commonly called Citizenship Ceremony represents the final step in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen by naturalization.
Xun Sun and Ling Yu Sun were expecting a big celebration with their students in Cedar City after their citizenship ceremony. On Thursday afternoon, they had a special concert in Southern Utah University, Xun Sun, as a conductor of the orchestra and Ling Yu Sun in a viola solo.
They came to the U.S. with student visas, 16 years ago. After graduating, they were offered the opportunity to work, so they decided to stay. They are now music professors at the Southern Utah University.
"It is a day we've waited for for a long time. We drove all the way here. We left home at one o'clock in the morning and we are returning as soon as the ceremony ends to celebrate with our students in the concert. We are planing to start it with The Star Spangled Banner," said Ling Yu Sun with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Citizenship does not happen overnight.
"It's sometimes a long process from when you start your journey in another country. You came here for a million different reasons, each one of you have your own story," said Mary U. Kruger, from the Washington D.C. office of Homeland Security during her keynote address.
During her remarks, she also expressed her appreciation and understanding for the immigrant population because her grandfather immigrated from Italy.
Most naturalized citizens take their oath at the federal court house, but this special naturalization ceremony, the first of it's kind in Utah, and the first at Arches National Park, was one of 22 hosted by National Park sites across the country under the theme, "Embrace Citizenship-Experience America Through Your National Parks." It was also planned for this day to coincide with the annual celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.
Itzy Vidal, who was born in Mexico City, has spent the last 12 years in the United States and attends the University of Utah. She was so happy to have arrived at this point, to finally legalize her status as a citizen. A process she says, took a very long time.
Her father, Ignacio Garcia said, "This is a very special moment for us that doesn't happen all the time. It's a day we have been waiting for with great anticipation and hope." Vidal is the last in her family to become a U.S. citizen.
To become citizens, candidates must submit an application, be fingerprinted, go through an interview, and take civics and English tests. Most are required to have lived in the United States for at least five years. "The test is not easy," mentioned Kruger, who took the test to find out how much she knew about her own country. "I had to think hard through the 100 questions to make sure I had the right answers."
An estimated 9,000 candidates will become citizens at 63 special ceremonies held across the country and around the world this week. At Arches, 15 countries were represented among the 24 candidates, the youngest of which was 20, and the oldest, 67.
"The national Parks hold part of the history of this nation," said Jeanne Kent, Salt Lake City field office director of the Department of Homeland Security, who administered the Oath of Citizenship. "Now you are a part of that history."
E-mail: cskinner@elobservadorutah.com
