GA_101719

4 | October 17, 2019 | The glencoe anchor news
glencoeanchordaily.com
New U.S. citizens sworn in at naturalization ceremony in Glencoe
2
Hilary Anderson
Freelance Reporter
The United States recently
welcomed 126 new
citizens from 40 countries,
several of whom are North
Shore residents.
The event occurred at a
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services Naturalization
Ceremony held
last Thursday, Oct. 10, at
the Chicago Botanic Garden
in Glencoe.
Usually such ceremonies
are held in a federal
courthouse. It was the first
time the Chicago Botanic
Garden was declared a
federal courthouse for the
Naturalization event.
“It was such an honor
to host this Naturalization
event,” said Jean Franczyk,
president and CEO of the
Chicago Botanic Garden.
“This is a beautiful place
to celebrate new citizenship
with its diversity of
flowers and plants similar
to the diversity of the
many countries these new
citizens represent. We are
thrilled to be considered
in the same realm as many
of our National Parks that
have hosted Naturalization
ceremonies like this one.”
There was an eagerness
and happiness in the eyes
and faces of the 126 candidates
for citizenship. They
were about to achieve the
American Dream with all
its rights and responsibilities.
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A movie, “The Faces
of America,” was shown
at the beginning of the
ceremony. The historical
documentary showed immigrants
from many countries
coming from abroad
to America, some through
Ellis Island and ended
with a scene of immigrants
in a boat watching as they
sailed closer to the Statue
of Liberty.
The Training Support
Center Great Lakes Color
Guard presented the colors
followed by the singing of
the National Anthem.
The Honorable Rebecca
Palimeyer, Chief Judge,
U.S. District Court for
the Northern District of
Illinois, administered the
Oath of Allegiance to the
naturalization candidates.
“What’s beautiful about
being here in this garden
is that it is a living
example of a simple notion
that diversity yields
beauty and vitality,” Palimeyer
said. “It’s this collection
of plants, flowers
and trees from all over the
world that makes the Chicago
Botanic Garden so
spectacular. It’s the diversity
of our faiths, cultures,
languages, colors and
countries of origin that
make our nation so vibrant.
I hope you remember
that it does not mean
you have left your native
culture behind. America
is not a perfect place and
needs your help to make it
better.”
Palimeyer quoted a former
president who wrote a
letter to his daughters just
before he was sworn in.
“My grandmother
helped me understand that
America is great not because
it is perfect but it
can always be made better
… and the unfinished
The group of new U.S. residents took the oath Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe.
Rhonda Holcomb/22nd Century Media
work of making it better
falls to each of us. It is a
charge we pass on to our
children.”
She continued, “Each
of you has something to
offer — your customs,
food, music, your beliefs
and ways of looking at the
world and the treasures of
your culture to this melting
pot, this flower garden
and your life stories.
We need your hard work
and talent. Most of all we
need your enthusiasm for
liberty.”
Several of the new U.S.
citizens are residents of the
North Shore.
Glenview residents included
Shameem Aadam.
“I am from England,”
Aadam said. “My husband
was here. America has a
nice lifestyle and is very
family-oriented.”
Alicja Sienkiewicz originally
is from Poland.
“I have been here a long
time,” she said. “America
is the country of my husband
and two boys. It is
now mine, too. I like living
here except for the property
taxes.”
Amintu Mol’s native
country is India.
“I am really excited to
be an American citizen,”
Mol said. “It was my ambition.
My family is with
me.”
Stephenson Hermosa
from the Phillipines
and Pratish Sthankiyam,
a native of the United
Kingdom, are two more
Glenview residents who
became American citizens
at the naturalization event.
Northbrook’s Bayarsaikhan
Batsukm, from
Mongolia, also is among
the group of new American
citizens.
“I am so happy to be
here in the U.S.,” he said.
“My brothers and sisters
are here now.”
Glencoe’s Village President
Larry Levin was
among the dignitaries welcoming
the new American
citizens.
“It is wonderful that the
beautiful Chicago Botanic
Garden is hosting these
new American citizens,”
Levin said. “We look forward
to enjoying the gifts
and talents from their cultures
they will bring to
America.”
State Rep. Jan Schakowsky
also congratulated
the new citizens.
She brought along a
copy of her father’s naturalization
paper to show
everyone.
“He came here in 1915
from Russia,” she said
proudly. “We are a nation
of immigrants who have
come here from all over
the globe. Our doors are
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open, not closed.”
Women from the Daughters
of the American Revolution
were also there.
“We come to all of the
naturalization ceremonies,”
said Diane Eubanks,
Regent-Ansel Brainerd
Cook Chapter, Libertyville.
“We bring the U.S.
made flags to give out and
support our new citizens.
“I am thrilled to be
here,” Maureen Lang added.
“America still is welcoming
new citizens all
the time.”
“I am happy to be at this
venue which reflects the
beauty of America and its
citizens,” Kathleen Brandt
added.