Children, parents cherish their first day as Americans

DURHAM -- Some were excited. Some probably would rather have been at the mall. Others, to all appearances, slept through the whole proceeding.

However the occasion moved them, they became certified American citizens.

"This is the stuff that keeps me coming to work each day," Jeffrey Sapko said.

Sapko is director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration office in Durham, where about 140 people ranging in age from babes in carriers to young adulthood received certificates of citizenship Saturday.

"I'm excited," said Alyona Krista, 15, who was born above the Arctic Circle in Russia and now lives with her adoptive parents in North Raleigh. "I feel I'm part of the country."

"It's one of the happiest days of my life," said Laura Turcotte of Mebane, who watched her Canadian-born son Jonah, 13, recite the oath of allegiance.

Afterward, as "Joy to the World" played in the background, Jonah said he had been "a little nervous."

Saturday's ceremonies were a mix of patriotism and holiday cheer, the immigration office decked out in Christmas green as well as red, white and blue, and Sapko described citizenship as "the most precious gift [the United States has] to offer."

Alyona, Jonah and the others being certified Saturday were entitled to citizenship through their parents, said Susan Muir, records supervisor at the Durham office. Some were born abroad to American parents, some were children of naturalized parents, and some had been adopted by U.S. residents.

"It's just a technicality," Muir said. "The children were citizens when they came into the door, but at least they have a certificate now, they can get their passports, they're set for life."

Henriette Stenkvist was getting set for the Olympics. The 14-year-old Raleigh resident was born in Sweden, moved to the United States with her parents Carl and Rosemarie five years ago. She's one of 30 girl swimmers invited to the U.S. Olympic Committee's National Select Camp next month in Colorado, but all her credentials had to be in order first.

Youngsters under 14 got their certificates in a morning ceremony that included a video of vintage immigration photographs called "Faces of America," a short speech by Sapko, a taped message of welcome from President George W. Bush, and a music video of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." An afternoon program included a raising of hands and reciting the oath -- required by law for certifying those older than 14.

Jonah Turcotte was 16 days short of his 14th birthday but, as the oldest of the younger group, he was invited to take the pledge as a "special honor," he said. And while certification may be a "technicality," it is still a bureaucratic process that, his mother said, may prove "long and painful" -- forms may get misfiled, fees may change, an "i" may be found undotted or a "t" uncrossed. Saturday came as a relief, they said -- but a happy and exciting one.

The young citizens were a spectrum of nationalities: Asians, South Americans, Middle Easterners -- Muir and Sapko lost count of how many countries of origin were represented. The Durham USCIS office serves North Carolina immigrants from Greensboro east to the coast, Sapko said, and since it opened in April it has processed 6,000 new citizens.

"North Carolina is just a very popular destination," he said.

For one family, Saturday's festivity had a particular poignancy. Yemen-born Abdu Alashmli, 3, and his 2-year-old brother Amr were there from Henderson with their mother, Blkis Huter, and uncle, Sadeq Alashmali. Their father, Sam, would have been there -- but he was murdered just a few months ago while at work in the family's store.

"He was a hard-working man," Sadeq Alashmali said, who came to America "just like everybody, to get better opportunity.

"We feel great [today]," he said, "It feels wonderful to sit by the flag and take pictures. ... We'll do everything for the U.S. ... but it would be better if their father were with us."