“The United States Constitution protects and preserves the rights of citizens, and federal courts are often called upon to rule on these rights and sometimes limit them, as in criminal cases,” Brann said.

“Today is a wonderful day, because this court can bestow these rights through this ceremony,” he continued.

“I want to make some remarks to you today about what has been and perhaps will be criticized under current circumstances and political climate of what I describe as American exceptionalism,” Brann told the new citizens and gathered friends and family, urging them to think about what he was saying to them.

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Rasmus Jorgensen of Sayre, speaks about his journey from Denmark to American citzenship during a naturalization ceremony at the the United States Middle District Court in Williamsport on Friday.

“American Exceptionalism is the theory that the United States is qualitatively different from other nations. In this view, America’s exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution becoming what political scientist Seymour Martin Lipset called ‘the first new nation,'” Brann said.

“We were first an example to the world of freedom’s possibilities,” the judge said.

“The United States is exceptional in that it was founded on a set of Republican ideals, rather than on a common heritage, ethnicity or a ruling elite,” Brann told the audience.

The judge also stressed the importance of the U.S. on the world stage, stressing that no other nation has guaranteed freedom, security and peace for more of humanity than America has.

“For the better part of a century, freedom and security for millions of people across the world has depended on the military, political, economic and diplomatic might and power of the United States,” he said.

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Paul Grant of Williamsport receives an American from a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, during a naturalization ceremony at the the United States Middle District Court in Williamsport on Friday. Grant immigrated from Jamaica.

But, quoting Judge Learned Hand, he also stressed the important role each citizen plays in keeping American exceptionalism alive.

“Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women. When it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it,” Brann said.

Representing the new citizens, who hailed from countries as diverse as Barbados, Brazil, Haiti and Ukraine, as the Journey Speaker was Rasmus Jorgensen, who emigrated from the Kingdom of

“My journey to becoming a US citizen started in a pretty unexpected way, playing video games online,” he said, explaining that that was how he met the woman who would become his wife.

“We started chatting just casually at first, but after spending years talking almost every day, we realized that there was something special, a real connection,” he said.

“We shared stories about our lives, our childhoods, our families, about everything,” said Jorgensen, of Sayre.

“Eventually, I flew over to visit for the first time. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but something about that trip just felt right. By the time we met in person, I had already felt like we’d known each other forever,” he said.

After several visits between the two, Jorgensen knew she was the one, and that’s when he decided to move to the U.S.

“At first, adjusting wasn’t easy. Even though I spoke English, there were all these little cultural things that threw me off, everything from grocery stores to small talk, took some getting used to, but little by little, it started to feel normal, and then it started to feel like home,” Jorgensen said, growth that he is extremely proud of.

“Becoming a citizen isn’t just about checking a box or passing a test, it’s about choosing to be part of something bigger,” he said, adding this takes nothing away from their respective heritages.

“It adds something new to who you are. I’m proud to be from Denmark, and I’m proud to be American now, too,” Jorgensen said.

That pride was also expressed by Yaidelina Gilramirez, who came to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic 10 years ago.

Now 21, and a college student, Gilramirez followed in the footsteps of her mom, who became a citizen three years ago.

“Being an American is something that would help me as a student in the long run, especially since I’m in school to be a teacher,” Gilramirez, who now resides in Watsontown said.

Much like Jorgensen, love was what drew 78-year-old Hermann Metz, originally from the Black Forest region of Germany, to become a U.S. citizen.

“I married an American woman, we stayed loving each other, and she wanted me to become an American citizen,” Metz, of Mount Pleasant Mills, said of his wife.

The couple celebrated 30 years of marriage in March.

“It was a great experience and gives me a great feeling of pride,” he said of the process to become a U.S. citizen.