Ceremony welcomes 58 new Americans
Holly Herman
Reading Eagle
Sep 27, 2007
Ceremony welcomes 58 new Americans
Berks County, PA - The Alvarado brothers, natives of El Salvador, said they have been living in Reading since they were young boys, patiently waiting to become citizens.
The big day for Waldo B., 21, and Fabricio A., 19, finally arrived Wednesday when they became citizens of the United States during a naturalization ceremony in the Berks County Courthouse.
'I can't wait to vote in my first election,' a beaming Waldo said before participating in the ceremony. 'We've been living here all our lives but we haven't had a say in who is in our government.'
The Alvarados said they plan to learn about the local candidates in the upcoming election before voting.
'I am so glad to finally be a citizen,' said Fabricio, a sophomore at Kutztown University who hopes to become a professional writer. 'I can finally vote.'
Waldo is a sophomore at Reading Area Community College, where he is studying biology.
The brothers were among 58 people from a variety of countries including El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Italy, Kenya and Nepal who became citizens Wednesday.
The brothers said they came to Reading with their parents, Waldo Sr. and Irma Alvarado, in 1987. At the time, their father was studying psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Alvarados said they had to wait about five years for their parents to become citizens before starting the process themselves.
'We always felt like we were citizens because we lived here almost our entire lives, but we weren't,' Waldo said.
Featured speaker Dr. Lawrence J. Mussoline, Wilson School District superintendent, welcomed the new citizens and shared some of his experiences.
'Congratulations to everyone out there,' he said. 'A little over 100 years ago, my forefathers went through a similar experience. They came to this country with little or no money in their pockets, but with a great hope.'
Mussoline said his family emigrated from Italy after the American Civil War because his parents learned that in America all men and women were created equal.
'Education is important,' Mussoline said. 'This is a land where the American dream is alive.'
Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl, who presided over the ceremony, said the American way of government is the best.
'Your family and friends should be proud of you because you have become citizens,' he said. 'With the problem of illegal immigration swirling around this country, you have become citizens the proper way.'
Schmehl advised the new citizens to vote in the November election and to honor their jury summonses.
Daniel E. P. Bausher, Berks County Bar Association president, said he's inspired by seeing so many people from different cultures becoming citizens.
'This day comes after a long and difficult journey for many of you,' he said. 'This citizen is more than just a legal process. This pledge comes with great privilege and responsibility.'
