Happy Birthday America!
I became an American citizen on the 11 of November 1979 in Salt Lake City Utah. It was an exiting day for me. Although I must admit when I raised my arm to pledge Allegiance to the Flag I did feel a small twinge in my heart for my Home Land of England.
The first location I lived in was Kensington, Maryland just outside of the Nations Capitol of Washington D.C What a great place to live and learn about the history of this Nation. My weekends were spent visiting historical sites with friends I met at Church. My friends were all from various places around the Country and the World. Every Saturday we would get together and get educated. The memories come flooding back of beautiful Mount Vernon the home of George Washington. Hours spent wandering through the Smithsonian Institute. Visiting Lee's Landing and many sites where famous Battle's were fought. Driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Fall and walking across the Shenandoah River on a very scary Swinging Bridge. Standing reverently at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial. Spending Warm Sunday Evenings down by the Potomac River listening to free concerts put on by the National Symphony and the Marine Band. Cherry Blossoms in the Spring. On our drives back home we would sing patriotic songs as loud as we could. "It's a Grand Old Flag" was the favorite. Memories only clouded by the War in Viet Nam. Such Great Friends and Great Times.
I enjoyed taking citizenship classes with a group of people from many different Nations of the world. I believe I was the only person in the class that spoke English as my native tongue. I got to do a lot of the reading out loud for the Teacher. Working with Immigration and Naturalization was not so fun, taking the Citizenship Test was nerve racking to say the least. You had to get six questions out of ten right out of a possible 100 that we studied in class. It felt like an Inquisition. You were placed in a chair and had to sit exactly in the position the Officer told you to without moving. My guess is that the whole thing was being filmed to ensure that everything was being done correctly and no cheating occurred.
What a relief when after the questions were asked and the right answers came to your mind. When the Officer told me I had passed and gave me the Court Date it was a pretty exiting feeling. Although the Officer did not seem so exited. I felt like just one more of the "tired, poor huddled masses yearning to breath free" but it was all in a day's work for her I suppose.
Court day was a lot better, I was sworn in with at least two hundred other people. The Judge was personable and gave a very nice talk and tried his best to make it a special and happy occasion for everyone.
I still get a little choked every week when I stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance at School. Even when I am alone in my Classroom when it is announced over the Intercom I stand and face the Flag put my hand over my heart and say it by myself.
Sometimes I think that all Americans who were born here should have to take the Citizenship Test. Or at least read the inspired words of the Declaration of Independence once a year.
Maybe the most patriotic thing I have ever done was to give birth to my first born son on the 4th of July 1976. Afraid I don't remember too much about America's 200th Birthday. From 2am in the morning I was sort of out of it and missed all the Celebrations. My wonderful Doctor who was supposed to have the day off came in just for me.
Have a Great 4th Everyone!
2 comments:
I loved reading this! I'm jealous that you've not only seen all of those historic sites, but that you lived there. What an amazing time in life, I'm sure! Thanks for sharing!
I loved this post as well. I agree that more people here should learn about and love our country as much as those who are "adopted" in. Thanks for the great feelings and for having Matt on the 4th - what a patriot you are :)
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