92-year-old becomes citizen after almost 70 years

After almost 70 years of residing in this country, Ruth Edith Doran is now a citizen of the United States and can vote for the first time, which was her main motivation for seeking the change at this point in time.

Doran, who will be 93 years-old in two weeks, came here from Canada in 1958 with her husband.

"He had just graduated from seminary and a week later we married and two weeks later we arrived. He was the assistant pastor at Messiah (Lutheran) in South Williamsport," she shared.

Along with her husband, the late Rev. George Doran who had more recently served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Hughesville, she raised two children and worked as a secretary at various insurance agencies, contributing to this country, but never becoming a citizen, until now.

Doran was one of a total of 26 people representing 12 different countries who were sworn in as citizens during a naturalization ceremony conducted by the Hon. Sean A. Camoni, United States Magistrate Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Friday.

In his opening statement Camoni welcomed everyone, saying it was a joyful occasion "probably one of the few times that people are excited to come to federal court."

Once the oath of allegiance was given, the new citizens along with everyone in the court room, recited the Pledge of Allegiance to their new country.

Camoni also took the opportunity to share with the group his experience of growing up with a grandmother, his Nona, who had emigrated from Italy and how those who have come here from other countries have enriched America.

One of my favorite symbols of America is the Statue of Liberty. As a young lawyer, I was lucky enough to ride a ferry boat to work every morning, and I would pass by Liberty Island on the way to work, and I could see Lady Liberty standing and holding the torch in the harbor. And every time I saw her, I thought of my great grandmother," he said.

"She came from the Umbria region of Italy with her parents, and I was blessed enough to grow up knowing her until I was 14 years old. In fact, she helped raise me. I would get off the bus every day at her house after school. She taught me how to cook. She made sure I did my homework, smacked me around if I didn't, taught me how to garden, and taught me a lot about what it was like in Italy, why her parents made the choice to come to America, how much better her life was," Camoni said, adding, "I've been conscious of that since I was a child of just how much better off I have it because she and others in my family's history made that journey."

Camoni characterized people like his great-grandmother and other ancestors who came to this country as immigrants, as family legends.

"Some, like my Nona, because we grew up with them as a huge part of our lives. Some we remember because of the stories and the pictures and memories that are passed down from generation to generation. But we revere their memory, and we hold such gratitude in our hearts to them for changing the course of our family's histories," he said.

'That's what you are now. Whether for your children, present or future, or those you left behind or joined here, or for yourselves alone, you are that brave soul who ventured out to start a new life in search of a land of opportunity," Camoni said.

Pointing out that America has long been a beacon of freedom and progress to the world, Camoni said, "America's light has burned brighter because of immigrants. So many generations of new Americans bringing new dreams and energy and new life from the old country. What would America be without the vast and colorful tapestry of our diverse and varied backgrounds and cultures...Without the dizzying array of traditions and foods and music and dance and language and literature and prayer, and art of all kinds."

He noted that in spite of all the contributions immigrants have made there have always been those who opposed immigration-"those who would make the world believe that the tired and the poor are not welcomed here, that this is no place for the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, and today is no different."

"There have always been those who claim that immigrants cause harm to our communities and act as a drain on our resources. Happily. History has unfailingly proven those naysayers wrong," he said.

"Immigration is a boon to our economy and a blessing to our national culture. And to those of you who faced such opposition, who heard such negative messages, and made your way here anyway, I say, good for you, and thank you, thank you for persevering in the face of opposition," he told the new citizens.

"To most of us, America is still the land of opportunity that it has always been, because here still lives the promise that the freedoms of speech, of thought, of self-determination, and government of the people, and the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, belong to everyone equally, regardless of wealth or station, gender or race, faith or lack thereof, or of your national origin," he added.

For that to continue, Camoni urged the group to uphold their civic responsibilities by voting, serving on a jury and to stay informed.

"Pay attention to what is going on around you, and in local and state government, and in Washington D.C. What your elected officials do, they do in your names now that you are citizens too. So make your voices heard, and most importantly, live well, live free. Congratulations and welcome, as I am now proud to call you all my fellow Americans," he said.

For Doran, after living in this country for 68 years, being able to express her dissatisfaction with what she sees happening around her is what pushed her to get her US citizenship.

"I just finally decided I needed to vote," she said, adding a list of the current policies that she's unhappy with.

Doran's daughter, Dr. Lynette Reitz is a Professor at Chamberlain University, accompanied her mother at the ceremony. She said that one of the reasons her mother hadn't sought citizenship was that she didn't want to renounce Canada.

Doran shared that she still has two of her triplet sisters that still live in Canada and in fact had just been there to visit relatives.

Also attending the ceremony was State Rep. Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport, who talked about his favorite president, Franklin D. Roosevelt who always began his speech with the phrase, "my fellow Americans."

Flick then encouraged everyone but the candidates for citizenship to rise so that the group could get their first standing ovation.

"I can't express how proud and how emotional I am right now that you are about to start your American dream," Flick said.

At every naturalization ceremony, one of the candidates for citizenship speaks for the group.

Marcia Aparecida Pravatto de Moraes Pereira, who emigrated from Brazil was chosen to fill that role.

"It's a big honor to be here today...it's very special for me to represent all of you," she said, adding "Now we did it guys."

She shared that when she was a child the American flag was always her favorite.

"Now I am here today and it's a big honor to be here...and I promise to be the America better," she said.

"First, I thank God for our journey and God bless everybody for their journey and God bless everybody and give us the guidance for the new journey and God bless America," she said.