Sept. 11 gives U.S. residents a reason to become citizens
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks had a horrific impact on most Americans. And for many people who lived in this country but were not citizens, the attacks had an even bigger effect.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Yesterday, about 200 people were sworn in as new U.S. citizens at the Neal Blaisdell Center. Several who took part in the special ceremony cited Sept. 11 as the day they decided to become Americans.
Newly naturalized U.S. citizens took the spotlight yesterday in a Citizenship Day Program at the Neal Blaisdell Center, many singing "God Bless America" through tears. Front row, from left: Bao Yuan Lei, Flerita Takemoto, Vivian Garcia and Anita Chow.
Clarita Agustin yesterday celebrated her new status as a U.S. citizen with her husband Paul at Blaisdell Center.
One of them was Anne Mitson, who is from England and has lived in Hawai'i with her American husband for 28 years. Mitson, 55, said she was happy to keep her British citizenship, but that the terrorist attacks changed everything.
"I felt like I was attacked," Mitson said. "My son's in the Air Force and I felt like an American."
When she heard that the British government was supporting the United States in its war on terrorism, Mitson said she was glad that "they" would be helping "us."
"I felt like I was an American and I felt like I should make it legal," said Mitson, a teacher who lives in Kahuku.
The Citizenship Day ceremony at the Blaisdell marked the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, and was highlighted by the mass swearing-in of the country's newest citizens.
Like Mitson, Vivian Garcia, 25, said she wanted to become a citizen more than ever after Sept. 11. Garcia is from the Philippines, has lived in Hawai'i for two years and is a member of the U.S. Air Force.
"I feel really proud of myself and being an American, especially with all that is going on," said Garcia, who encouraged others to wave the flag as they sang "God Bless America."
Garcia added that she wants to continue serving her new country in the Air Force and to do so she needed to become a naturalized citizen.
James Wall came to Hawai'i from Canada 12 years ago. He looks forward to all the new rights he has as an American citizen.
"After 12 years it felt like home and I felt it was appropriate to become a citizen," said Wall, an attorney. "I feel like a new bride."
Mitson said she felt a little sad to leave her British citizenship behind. But she said she has much more to look forward to. "I think I've lost a part of me. I grew up British and British is my heritage," she said. "But I've got a new one now."
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
