Swearing-in of new citizens a special moment for all involved

House Republican Leader Tom Cross
Over my lifetime I have had the opportunity to go to many events in our area and across the state.

There have been very few that have touched me quite like the naturalization ceremony in Aurora recently. If you haven’t had the opportunity to attend one — you should.

From the moment I walked into the auditorium at West Aurora High School on that hot summer day, you could feel the patriotism and excitement in the room.

The only decoration behind the stage was an enormous American flag, the size of one that you see at parades or sporting events that require dozens of people to hold because it is so large.

Hundreds of people filed into their seats waiting for the ceremony to begin. This is a ceremony that many of them have been waiting years and years to attend.

One of the most touching moments of the ceremony is when the Senior Immigration Services Officer did the “Roll Call of Nationalities.” According to officials there, approximately 350 were candidates for citizenship that day from 61 countries.  Read the rest of Tom Cross' guest commentary in the Beacon News.