Young people earn citizenship

Steve Woodhouse

Knoxville — The road to American citizenship can be a long one. Just ask Oralia Tarin, who waited six years to see her son, Brian Hermosilio, become an American citizen.

“He’s so excited to become part of this country,” Tarin said. She and her son are originally from Mexico and they live in Des Moines. A machine operator, it took her this long to raise the $450 necessary for her son to join 29 other young people from 13 countries at a swearing in ceremony at Dan-D-Farms Saturday afternoon.

The children who became citizens Saturday had to meet requirements. Among them are the need to have at least one parent who is a United States citizen, either by birth or naturalization. Their parents have to be legal residents in America for at least five years. Children under age 18 are eligible, if they are in the legal custody of these parents.

Genesis Pena, 16, of Marion, is originally from the Dominican Republic. She has been in the United States since she was two, and she was pleased to become a citizen.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Pena said. “It feels good.” She will be glad that she will be able to vote and travel with fewer hassles.

“It is special event,” said Dolly Howe, Immigration Services Officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Howe has organized nine of these citizenship ceremonies at various locations in Iowa this year. Ceremonies have taken place at memorable destinations, such as the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad, Living History Farms and on a riverboat in the Mississippi. The reason she enjoys holding them at places such as this is to make the day even more memorable for the new citizens.

“We’ve just taken them all over the place,” Howe said.

Saturday’s ceremony was scheduled to take place outdoors, with Dan-D’s cornfield in the background. Early snowfall changed plans and moved it inside a nearby barn.

“I was really disappointed this morning when I saw the snow,” Howe said. The cold and snow did not appear to dampen the spirits of the children or their families in attendance.

The children came from all over the world. Countries represented include Bulgaria, Pakistan, Egypt, Honduras, Italy, Laos, Switzerland, Germany and more. American Legion Post 168 members Jack Spaur, Conrad Nelson and Ron Hayes served as the color guard.

In the oath taken by the children, they renounced any allegiance to their home countries or foreign kings and leaders. They all agreed to serve the United States, if called to action.

Following the oath, a recording of President Obama, welcoming the new citizens, was played. “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood followed. By the end of the event, every new citizen was presented legal certificates denoting their United States citizenship.

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