New allegiance begins

Independence Day marks the beginning of a new life steeped in tradition but filled with hope and opportunity for 27 immigrants who became U.S. citizens Friday

KINSTON -- For 27 immigrants receiving U.S. citizenship, this Fourth of July was better than a day spent watching parades and fireworks. "It was the best day of my life," said Lance Cpl. Levy Alvarado, a Marine who recently returned from Iraq. "It meant everything. I'm the first in my family to get citizenship, and this was definitely one of the hardest things I've done."

Alvarado's relatives couldn't fly in from California to see the ceremony, but he was surrounded by friends and fellow immigrants as he received his citizenship papers on a hot Friday morning.

The significance of the day was readily apparent to those assembled. But the ceremony was doubly appropriate, said Adrian King of the Lenoir County Historical Society, because the event took place at Harmony Hall, which served as the de facto state capitol during the Revolutionary War.

The two-story home was owned by North Carolina's first governor, Richard Caswell. The state's war board used to meet there to plan strategy against the British; the house was also the setting for legislative and administrative meetings.

"The business of freedom was once conducted on this very spot," King said. So it was again Friday as these new citizens raised their hands and pledged their allegiance to their adopted country. They came from around the globe -- from Colombia, Canada and 15 other countries.

Under a white tent behind the historic building, Air Force Lt. Col. Lance Bunch joined U.S. Judge James Gates of Raleigh and Rep. Walter Jones in speaking to the assembled crowd of about 140 people, offering words of hope and reflection to fellow countrymen.

"This oath will undoubtedly change everything about you and your life, and I hope you will pass this rich heritage to your children, teach them your values," Bunch said.

Against a backdrop of red, white and blue flags and clothing, Pfc. Leonor Gloria Robertson's green army uniform stood out. Born in Peru, Robertson is a Fayetteville resident stationed at Fort Bragg. She said she was in Kinston to take the oath of allegiance before her deployment to Afghanistan this month.

Asked what she was thinking as she received her citizenship papers -- complete with a mini American flag, pin and copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution -- Robertson said she was "just so grateful; when you're a citizen there's so much you can do. I already serve my country in the military, but this opens so many doors -- to become an officer, to get an education."

One row ahead of Robertson, Stephany Diaz and her mother, Marsellis George, made the ceremony into a family affair, opting to receive their U.S. citizenship together. This day was 12 years in the making, said George, who immigrated with her daughter from Panama.

"After waiting a while to get educated, I decided it was finally time," George said, adding that it was a relief to finally be at the "last step."

Mother and daughter now live in Fayetteville, where Diaz is a sophomore at Fayetteville State University. Citizenship will help smooth the road to law school, she said.

After greeting Robertson, Diaz, George and other newly minted citizens, Jones pledged to take their stories back to the floor of Congress.

"People talk about amnesty, which I'm opposed to, but these people followed the process, and now they've become American citizens," Jones said after the ceremony had concluded.