Becoming a U.S. citizen

Ninety-seven individuals representing many countries raised their right hand and took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States, thereby becoming United States citizens Friday.

The Hon. William Stafford, Senior United States District Judge, and the Hon. Miles Davis, United States Magistrate Judge, presided over the ceremony held in Pensacola.

Davis stated that this was a privilege because, "a great deal of our time is spent dealing with problems," and that "it is a rare occasion when we preside in which everyone wins and goes away happy."

He further said that this was a unique ceremony for him because there were several family members taking the oath together including three brothers from the Philippines, a mother and daughter from Turkmenistan, and a husband and wife from Poland.

Stafford spoke of how "we are all Americans." Addressing the citizens, he stated that the journey for the new citizens "may have been long and different but that they never lost that dream of becoming a citizen."

Also becoming U.S. Citizens were three sailors: Hospital Corpsman David Guerrero from Mexico; Airframes Mechanic Olaoluwa Oduntan from Nigeria; and Anny Mo Chu from China.

The Beulah Academy of Science had an 8th-grade class present. James Ward and Tatijuana Woods read prepared essays on "What it means to be an American." The essays were chosen as the best in their class.

Ward spoke about the freedoms of America, "It's our lives and it's our right to choose how to live them."

Woods included that "Our freedoms are what set our country apart from others."

Two other students presented the oldest and the youngest new citizens with American flags: Amparo Maria Espinosa of Cuba and Fargol Farrokhnazar from Iran, respectively.

The speakers included H.M. David Guerrero and Hal White, Sr. Admin. Fellow and Professor of Ethics, Law and Policy at the University of West Florida. Guerrero simply stated, "seven years and a couple of deployments done, I wouldn't change anything. It's great to be American."

The proceedings were closed in song from Dr. Leo Day of Olive Baptist Church. In honor of all the cultures and languages represented by the new citizens, he sang "America the Beautiful" in English, Russian and Spanish.

Pictures followed the ceremony and a reception was held in honor of the new citizens.