NORTHAMPTON — On July 4, the most fitting of American holidays, 55 people from 31 countries across five continents took an oath of allegiance outside the Hampshire County Courthouse to become some of the newest citizens of the United States of America.

“It just feels amazing. It’s like a dream come true,” said Danilo Pojoy Chaj, who first came to the U.S. 10 years ago as a teenager from the small city of San Marcos in Guatemala. “You really can’t describe it with words.”

The new citizens come from all corners of the world and across all religions and ethnicities, from Poland and Bangladesh to Tanzania and Peru. Many celebrated by waving small American flags, with the event also serving refreshments of fruit and donuts and featuring live performances of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” by local singer Evelyn Harris.

The special Fourth of July ceremony was organized by the Center for New Americans, as it has been for the last 16 years. Several of the new citizens had been clients of the center, which helps newly arrived immigrants by providing resources such as English language classes and career development.

“Some of you were not only our clients, you were our English language students,” said Laurie Millman, the executive director of the Center for New Americans, in a speech during the ceremony. “We are privileged to walk with you and achieve this dream of full participation in our community.”

Millman also spoke of the significance of the July 4 holiday as a way to reflect on the ideals that the nation was founded on, namely that all people are created equal with the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

“Many of us believe that we still have work to do, that these ideals have not always applied to everyone as they are meant to,” Millman said. “The important thing is that we can have this dialogue about who has been included and who still needs to be included, and we can give ourselves grace to become more inclusive. And you who believe in these ideals enough to choose U.S. citizenship can join this effort and expand our perspective.”

Judge Katherine Robertson, who presided over the naturalization ceremony, told those gathered that it was heartening for her to see them become citizens in the city of Northampton, where she was raised.

“It’s a community that values diversity, civility and mutual respect,” Robertson said. “That’s not easy in these times. It’s not always easy here. But I think people really try.”

Becoming a U.S. citizen is a journey that includes completing the application, traveling to a U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services Office for biometrics, studying U.S. history and civics, and participating in an interview with an immigration officer. At Thursday’s naturalization ceremony, the 55 new citizens pledged to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic, and bear true faith and allegiance to that same Constitution.

For the new citizens, this year’s July 4th holiday was one of joy and celebration of the work they had put in to achieve their own American dream.

“After I heard about this place on the TV, I was like man, I gotta be at this place,” said Kemar Stephens, who came to the U.S. from Jamaica and now works at manufacturer TTM Technologies. “It’s the best place on Earth. I’ve accomplished all of my dreams here.”

Madeleine Yowa, who lives in Northampton after coming to the U.S. seven years ago from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said she not only was happy to be a citizen of the United States, but also a resident of Massachusetts.

“I like this state because it provides a good education for kids,” Yowa said. “And I feel very safe here.”

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.