A solidly-crammed auditorium stood home to what will be undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest celebrations of a lifetime for those who were there to see it on Wednesday morning.
Even more so for the forty guests of honor who were to be sworn in as naturalized American Citizens.
18 countries were represented at ceremony. Also present were State Senator James Leewright and State Representative Mark Lawson, as well as members of related groups such as The Daughters of the American Revolution.
Being that the ceremony was an actual legal proceeding, Court Clerk Mark McCartt opened the session with a proper introduction, and introduced Judge John E. Dowdell. After a presentation of colors, courtesy of Sapulpa High Marine Corps JROTC, court was officially in session.
Judge Dowdell began by explaining to the auditorium that what we were about to witness was the culmination of a long an arduous process, whereby these forty guests would enter as strangers, and leave as citizens of the United States of America.
“Citizen,” he said, “That word is very special.”
Then Director Craig Amendt led the band in a rendition of God Bless the USA, and Principal Seth Shibley said a few words of welcome to the guests.
Judge Dowdell then recounted the story of how his great-grandfather Patrick Dowdell came to America by way of the sinking of the S.S. Atlantic, off the shores of Nova Scotia in 1873. The disaster killed at least 535 people and remained the deadliest civilian maritime disaster in the North Atlantic Ocean until the sinking of SS La Bourgogne on 2 July 1898 and the greatest disaster for the White Star Line prior to the loss of Titanic in April 1912. Dowdell said that all of the lifeboats except for one were swept away or smashed by the sea. The one boat housed all the women and children on the ship, until it too, capsized and everyone on board died. Only 371 survived, all of them men. Patrick Dowdell was one of the survivors. At 17, he had left Ireland on his own, in the midst of a famine, and after the sinking of the SS Atlantic made his way into the United States, thereby giving citizenship to his children and those to come.
Dowdell remarked how each of us in the room except for maybe Native Americans, are originally immigrants from another country. Then, turning to the guests, he told them, “Whatever you may believe, whether you prefer one party or no party, our collective future depends on your willingness to uphold your duty as citizens. To vote; to speak out; to stand up for others. Especially, the weak, especially the vulnerable. Knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us.”
Afterwards, the Judge seemed to have forgotten where he was in the program, as he mistakenly tried to call Principal Shibley back up. Amy Riff, Junior High Principal, instead came to the podium and said a few words before turning over the mic to the guest of honor: Nicola Cooper.
Already a tall woman, Coach Nikki Cooper looked even taller in heels, and with a long, flourishing shawl of sorts that looked like the American Flag, took the stand to a thunderous applause.
“The American People have welcomed me with open arms since day one,” she began. “The let me into their homes, and invited me in as one of their own. They even let me drive their cars, not realizing that I drive on the other side of the road in Scotland,” she said, to chuckles from the audience.
“The USA has always been regarded as the land of opportunity,” she continued, “and I can attest to this. They have given me many opportunities, personally and professionally. I hope that I have made a difference in the lives and communities of which I’ve been a part of, because you have blessed my life for the better.”
“It has been quite a journey, these last 24 years,” she said, her voice breaking a bit. She pauses, takes a breath, and continues: “It hasn’t always been easy, and has definitely tested my strength. It is truly an honor to be standing here before you today.”
Partway through her speech, she gives credit to her mother and asks her to stand. A small white-haired woman a few rows from the front stands and and turns to an applause and cheers from the audience. “As you can tell,” Cooper says sarcastically, “I get my height from my mother.”
Turning to her fellow citizens-to-be, she encouraged them: “Dream, and dream big. Then work hard to make your dream a reality. Be determined to be the best version of yourself that you can. God bless each and every one of you for being here today,” and pumping her hand into the air, she finished, “And God bless America.”
When Cooper sat down, there was a beautiful rendition of America the Beautiful by the Senior High Choir, followed by remarks from from Superintendent Rob Armstrong.
And the moment we had all come for: the introduction of the petitioners and the Oath of Allegiance, which made each of the 40 guests citizens. Afterwards, we all stood and appropriately said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang The Star Spangled Banner, sharing a common bond with our new brothers and sisters for the first time.
After this, there was the presentation of the Certificates, where each new citizen was presented with their official documents and a small American flag. When Cooper’s name was called, the audience erupted in a cheers and deafening applause, and Cooper enthusiastically waved her little flag with vigor.
As Judge Dowdell closed out the court and family and friends gathered around them for congratulations and photos, there was a palpable sense of pride in the room. It was likely no coincidence that all of these men and women who had joined to celebrate and become a part of the country they loved would get to celebrate that tremendous occasion on Valentine’s Day.
New Citizens
* Denotes Name Changes
Luis Alberto Moncada* (Columbia)
Ellen Christine Sparks (Trinidad and Tobago)
Cinthang Gualnam* (Burma)
Nelson Xavier Alvarado (Panama)
Claudia Harmon (Mexico)
Francisco J Cervantes Ayala* (Mexico)
Daniel J Rodriguez (Mexico)
Rasool Azari* (Iran)
Brian Byung Lee* (Republic of Korea)
Rajesh Ramesh Jivan* (South Africa)
Nicola Cooper (United Kingdom)
ZhuZhen Rachel Ouyang* (People’s Republic of China)
Jayshree Jivan* (United Kingdom)
Salvador Mercado Rivera (Mexico)
Amalia Evangelina Peyran Reeves* (Argentina)
Grace Nyanjau Ndiritu Masaku* (Kenya)
Peggy Chipinda* (Zimbabwe)
Nang Liansang Hatlang* (Burma)
Eyob Solomon* (Eritrea)
Mohammad Rafique* (Bangladesh)
Ekta Gupta (India)
Ning Ching Tawmging* (Burma)
Juan Paniagua* (Mexico)
Maria Guadalupe Villegas* (Mexico)
Manimozhi Kumar* (Mexico)
De Ly (Vietnam)
June Kyeong Lee (Replublic of Korea)
Kerin Cairal Phillips (Panama)
Hanh Doan Hoang* (Vietnam)
Pau Lian Thang* (Burma)
Kyoung Ran Ki (Republic of Korea)
Josefina Chaves Castillo* (Mexico)
Zam Cin Khai* (Burma)
Mary Pham* (Vietnam)
Kim Pham* (Vietnam)
Hannah Huong Tran* (Vietnam)
Rebecca Demessie* (Ethiopia)
Siam Khaute* (Burma)
Armandina Munoz* (Mexico)
Mustafa Qays Albustani* (Irag)
