PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
THE OATH … Judge Knepp II leads the 75 new citizens in their oath of citizenship at the Naturalization Ceremony held at Sauder Village. VIEW 51 PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
ARCHBOLD – A new citizen Naturalization Ceremony was held at Sauder Village last week. The ceremony began at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 4th and saw 75 individuals take the oath of citizenship.
Thirty-seven countries were represented by these new citizens, with each of them vowing to “absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which they have heretofore been a subject or citizen.”
At the beginning, Boy Scout Troop #63 presented the colors, before Town Crier Steve Van Sickle opened the court.
A speech of welcome was then given by Sauder Village Interim President Andy Brodbeck before then hearing from United States District Judge, the Honorable James R. Knepp II.
Judge Knepp II has been presiding over the Sauder Naturalization Ceremony every year since 2010 and explained during the ceremony that it is his favorite thing to do as a judge.
Fulton County Common Pleas Court Administrator Jessica Reyes spoke next before USCIS Officer Breon Boyd presented the candidates for citizenship. Judge Knepp II then presided over the oath of citizenship with each of the 75 new citizens.
Each of the new citizens were also given their certificate and were encouraged to register to vote. The Pledge of Allegiance was then led for the new citizens by the Boy Scouts and the Fort Defiance Dixieland Jazz Band performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America”.
Some of the new citizens were overjoyed during the judge’s speech and some tears were shed. Hundreds of people at least, including the new citizens’ relatives, attended the ceremony, with many joyful moments being shared together.
After the ceremony had concluded, Judge Knepp II was asked how excited he was to once again be here to preside over the ceremony. “As you could probably hear my voice cracks a little bit, I am so fired up for this.”
“It’s like, I don’t know, it recharges my love for this country coming here and doing this and seeing the people who have worked so hard to accomplish something and they have done everything the right way.”
“I don’t know anybody who’s not in favor of immigration the right way. I mean that’s the basis of our country.”
Some new citizens were also asked about their excitement following the event. These were some of the responses.
Atiaia Watabe Wagner stated, “It was very exciting, and I am very proud of myself and my kids. They are going to be proud of me and my husband too.”
Francilena Duque Sanchez – “I feel excited and grateful to be here with you guys and blessed. Today has been good, pretty nice. I was expecting something smaller, but this is something pretty nice. There was a good amount of effort and made us feel good.”
Marcel Barwanietz – “I am very excited. This has been 13 years in the making. Today has been very beautiful, especially with not being in the courthouse, but to actually be outside and have the celebration and to be lucky to hold it on the Fourth of July. It has been very memorable.”
THE PLEDGE … Members of Boy Scout Troop #63 lead the 75 new citizens in their first Pledge of Allegiance as U.S. Citizens during the Naturalization Ceremony held at Sauder Village.