“So excited. I became part of the United States.” That was Carmen Quiroz, a native of Ecuador, talking on the Fourth of July, as she walked across the lawn of the Hampshire County Courthouse in Northampton to collect her certificate of U.S. citizenship.
“So ecstatic,” said Rene Owusu Agyapomaa of Ghana, swaying to the beat of Kool and the Gang’s song “Celebration” booming from loudspeakers, after picking up her certificate.
“I said, Thank God I’m now a part of this country,’” said Emily Henry of the Philippines, who was there celebrating, too.
These uplifting comments marked a day when patriotism was on full display across the country.
The three women were among 58 immigrants who were sworn in as U.S. citizens in what has become an annual Independence Day ceremony arranged by the Center For New Americans in Northampton. There were 33 countries represented this time.
The center, a nonprofit organization that teaches English and offers citizenship and other support services to immigrants, began organizing these July 4 naturalization ceremonies a decade ago.
When we see stories about immigrants these days, they are usually focused on those not being offered a path to citizenship. The stories describe fear and conflict spurred by heartless government policies.
But last Wednesday we had the chance to write about a welcoming day for newcomers. There were 400 people celebrating with the newly minted citizens.
“Getting to help people through the citizenship process reminds me every day of the gifts and talents immigrants bring to this country,” said Tina Sanchez, a Center for New Americans associate.
Yes, they have a lot to offer and we are proud that our community embraces them each year with a joyous, public celebration.
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Another proud moment last week was a personal one savored by Joseph Woynar, a 2016 graduate of Amherst Regional High School and a seaman who is part of a select Navy crew serving on the USS Constitution. Old Ironsides, as it is called, is the world’s oldest commissioned warship still on the water. The ship fired off a 21-gun salute in Boston Harbor on the Fourth of July as part of its monthly venture from Charlestown Navy Yard and Woynar was part of it.
Woynar is serving a two-year assignment aboard Old Ironsides and one of his duties is to guide tourists around the ship that successfully held off the British Navy in the War of 1812. Old Ironsides, which defended sea lanes from 1797 to 1855, is now a highlight on Boston’s Freedom Trail.
“Serving aboard the ship is incredibly powerful,” Woynar told reporter Scott Merzbach, adding that he particularly enjoys describing its history and how the Navy began. The 21-gun salute was a dramatic event and Woynar, whose grandfather was also in the Navy, was honored to be there. The Navy, he says “runs in the blood.”
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Congratulations to the Hampshire Probate and Family Court for picking up another prestigious award for the work it does.
Recently it received the Irwin Cantor Innovative Program Award from the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, an international group, for its Family Resolutions Specialty Court.
Called the first of its kind when it was launched two years ago, the program aims to protect children by reducing anger and anxiety when a marriage is coming apart. A team of court professionals and advocates works with the families, who participate voluntarily.
Financial support for the program, which operates on donations and grants, has been hard to come by, however. State Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, sponsored a funding amendment for it recently which was rejected by the House. Now, western Massachusetts senators are supporting an amendment requesting $125,000, which is in conference committee.
Other awards the Hampshire Probate and Family Court has won from the association include one for a program, which centers on communication skills for separated and divorced parents and another on the needs of kids whose parents never married.
We are fortunate that our local court is forward-thinking in its efforts on behalf of children and families. We hope the state Legislature sees its way to provide the financial support the court needs to continue this worthy program.