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50 new citizens take the oath of allegiance
Published: September 24, 2014
Exactly 227 years after the U.S. Constitution was signed, 50 immigrants last Thursday took the oath of citizenship and became naturalized citizens of the United States of America at the Akron Summit County Public Library. This is the 27th year that the Akron Bar Association and the Constitution Day Committee has hosted the event.
U.S. District Court Judge John R. Adams administered the Oath of Allegiance to the new citizens who came from all around the globe. Also congratulating Akron’s newest citizens were Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic; Deborah S. Matz, director of law for Insurance and Risk Management for Summit County; Ann Marie O’Brien, president of the Akron Bar Association; Kim Adams of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and Richard Kutuchief a member of the committee. Each speaker emphasized to the new citizens not to forget the heritage and culture from which they came, but also the importance to be an active participant in the democratic process of the United States.
“This country has shaped me as a person and taught me good values –very good values,” said Hripsime Manukyan who came to America 14 years ago as a young girl from Armenia. She added, “I have lived here almost half of my life and this country has given me a lot of opportunity I would not have had otherwise.”
“Since 1987 a core group of Akron Bar Association Members have been dedicated to making this day a reality for so many new citizens,” said chairman of the Constitution Day Celebration Committee, retired judge Ted Schneiderman. “It is such a pleasure to see how proud people are to become new citizens and know that we had a part in making this day special for them.”
Adding to the significance of the event, the 200th anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner was commemorated by members of the ETC School of Musical Arts who sang the national anthem and other patriotic songs.