I Pledge Allegiance

Today I officially became a citizen of the United States of America and it's a great feeling! These pictures are from the oath ceremony this morning. I'm so lucky to have so much support from family, so thank you to all who attended! The ceremony was very meaningful and I'm proud to be American, not only in my heart, but on paper as well. I feel so blessed to have lived in freedom all my life. Coming from Canada I never knew poverty and war like many others at the ceremony today. I sat beside a woman from Russia, Anna, and another woman from Columbia, Gloria. They were so excited to become citizens and all three of us cried when we were sworn in.

Ava standing beside me after the ceremony. I'm holding my Naturalization Certificate which is similar in function to a birth certificate.

This is the Rose Wagner Theatre before the ceremony started.

I'm so lucky to have Luke there to take pictures! He did a great job, even with the low lighting!

My family cheering me on!

Taking the oath.

There were 200 new citizens sworn in today.

The Judge who presided over the ceremony and spoke of his own parents immigrating to the U.S. from Romania.

We had the opportunity to say a few words so I commented on my gratitude for becoming an American and united my family together under one country.

Another picture with my Naturalization Certificate.

Below is a letter that each new citizen received from the President. I included a copy of this because I know how much Kristy and Justin will enjoy seeing it! It's printed on official White House paper and signed by President Obama. Pretty cool!

Overall it was an amazing experience. Here's a quote about immigration from President Woodrow Wilson that really sums up how I feel:

"You have just taken an oath of allegiance to the United States. Of allegiance to whom? Of allegiance to no one, unless is it God. Certainly not of allegiance to those who temporarily represent this great Government. You have taken an oath of allegiance to a great ideal, to a great body of principles, to the great hope of the human race."