'We are all immigrants': 30 new American citizens sworn in at Bergen County's Law Day
HACKENSACK — Thirty new United States Citizens were sworn in on Monday afternoon outside the Bergen County courthouse in honor of Law Day.
The new citizens took part in an array of events during the county's Law Day ceremony, where awards were also handed out to high school students for their mock trial competition efforts and to fourth graders who took part in the county's election calendar poster contest.
This year's Law Day theme, "cornerstone of democracy: Civics, civility and collaboration" was embraced by many of the speakers who offered words of wisdom and encouragement to the new citizens and the 200 people in attendance.
"The weight of the American experiment in liberty and freedom presses down on these cornerstones and we birthright citizens must repoint the blocks, reeducate the populous and rededicate ourselves to these principals," Law Day Chairman James Guida said. "So, we turn to you who have chosen to adopt America as your country. You who have chosen to take the oath of citizenship of the United States of America to participate in our republic as voters advocated and even as elected officials to help us renew our faith in our institutions and in each other to join with us to promote freedom and justice for all."
Established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958, Law Day was designated as “a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law.”
Bergen County Executive James Tedesco echoed those remarks to the new citizens and encouraged them to get involved.
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"As you take your oaths today, the best way to strengthen the rule of law is being engaged," Tedesco said. "We have to know who represents us on every level from the school board to the White House."
Tedesco also said it was important to vote in every election and suggested the newly sworn in citizens join a local board, committee or organization or even run for office one day.
The men and women who took the citizenship oath hail from more than 20 countries including Albania, Chile, Hungry, India, Kenya, South Korea and Turkey.
"God Bless America" was performed by the Bergen County Academies Chamber choir before the presentation.
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Elhassan Merzek Hamed Abdelgalil arrived to the United States from Egypt in 2017. Becoming a U.S. citizen was a dream fulfilled. He sat in the front row and often posed for pictures holding a small American flag for his young son who was in attendance.
Assignment Judge Carol Novey Catuogno administered the oath and County Clerk John Hogan presented each new citizen with their official paperwork.
Hogan thanked them for being part of "The American Dream" and said his Deputy Clerk Steve Chong first arrived in America at the age of 14 and became a citizen at 22. He now serves as the first Korean American deputy county clerk in the state.
"Today we recognize that we are all immigrants or descendants from immigrants," Hogan said before encouraging everyone to register to vote as he passed out registration paperwork. "America only works if you participate in our democratic republic and you vote."
The preparations for the new citizens were made by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services from the Newark Field Office. The mini flags were given by the New Jersey Daughters of the American Revolution Claverack and Polly Wyckoff-David Demarest Chapters.
Felecia Kenton, who was originally born in Jamaica, said the day was emotional. "It just feels good," Kenton said surrounded by family as she posed for photos in front of the American flag. "I already feel like I have more freedom."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bergen County NJ Law Day: 30 American Citizens sworn in
