The United States is a nation of immigrants and for many people the sole reason for migrating to this country is the chance to become an American citizen. On Nov. 10, the National Park Service welcomed 23 new Americans during a naturalization cruise on Lake Mead.
“I am so proud to be a citizen of this country,” said Jing Wang, who immigrated from China. “I waited so long for this and now I am an American.”
The new citizens participated in a ceremony held in their honor aboard the Desert Princess, a Mississippi-style riverboat that took the guests of honor across Lake Mead and to the Hoover Dam.
All of the new Americans pledged allegiance to their new country while U.S. Federal Judge Lloyd D. George recited the Oath of Allegiance, ending their long journey from immigrants to U.S. citizens.
The guests of honor hailed from 14 countries spanning across the continents of Europe, Asia, Australia and North and South America.
“We are honored to welcome these new citizens to such a marvelous country,” George said.
Javier Ortega from Mexico said he was honored to have an opportunity that many do not get.
“I am proud to be a part of this country,” Ortega said. “I met my family in this country and I am so honored to be a part of a system that allows anyone who is willing to work hard to be a part of a great nation.”
Lake Mead Recreation Area Superintendent Lizette Richardson struggled to contain her excitement at the thought of what these new citizens could accomplish.
“The journey that each of you took to become American citizens was one to be honored and cherished,” Richardson said. “Every step you took brought you here. Just think about where your next steps will lead you.”
Oksana Saulenko, who is a naturalized citizen from Ukraine, congratulated the guests of honor on becoming citizens.
“It is a great honor to become a citizen of the United States,” Saulenko said. “Everyone who comes from another country knows it is hard for us and I still remember the day in 2004 when I got a bachelor’s degree and citizenship from the United States.”
Each of the new citizens then had a chance to state their name and where they came from. The guests were also treated to a video message from President Barack Obama.
Scott Odingham from Australia has lived in Las Vegas for 14 years and said he was overjoyed to become a citizen after such a long wait. “Today is just awesome,” Odingham said. “I love Las Vegas; I don’t think I will every leave. There is opportunity here and a chance to bring up my family and I am honored to have a ticket to one of the best countries in the world.”
Odingham said he was excited to become an American citizen before he marries his fiance in Hawaii next year. The crowd was happy to finally call themselves Americans and began their new lives as citizens with some customary flag waving.
New citizens were not the only group with smiles. George was all to happy to swear in the new Americans. In his closing statement, George reminded everyone the importance and success of immigrants in this country. He used the United States’ first female Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as an example of the heights a naturalized citizen could achieve.
“Albert Einstein became a citizen of this country in 1940, our former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright moved her family from Czechoslovakia,” George said. “Each one of the new citizens today brings a tradition and set of values that enlightens all of us.”
At the end of the trip the former immigrants stepped onto American soil for the first time as American citizens, many of them stepping off the boat with a smile on their face and the country’s flag in their hand.
Contact reporter Max Lancaster at mlancaster @bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow him on Twitter @MLancasterBCR.