Conversation
with the Mayor October
30, 2012
Vicky
Daly
It
was a Happy Day
It is a
rare occasion that brings a smile to the face of everyone present. I had the
good fortune to be present at one of those very special events on October 25, 2012. Following a Posting of the Colors by the
Marion Minute Men; the Pledge of Allegiance led by Eagle Scout Ricky Yackel,
and the National Anthem sung by Tom Dawes, Judge Dennis Kehoe presided over a
Naturalization Ceremony for twenty two people from fourteen countries. Twenty
two people from countries as different as Kosovo and Australia, Haiti and
Egypt, the Congo and Russia, had made the decision and met the requirements to
become citizens of the United States.
The ceremony with its all
important swearing in was held in the Supervisors’ Chambers of the Old Lyons
Court House. Organized by Wayne County Clerk Mike Jankowski, the proceedings
went smoothly and, it appeared, absolutely all bases had been covered. Jeffery
Billings, Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, an apparent veteran of
such ceremonies, provided an overview of what was to happen to the candidates.
The mood was totally positive and upbeat. Prior to the ceremony itself, Marje Bridson and Mark Alquist, Commissioners,
Wayne County Board of Elections, worked
through voter registration paperwork with the about-to-be-new-citizens and
informed them that, once registered, their first opportunity to exercise their
right to vote would be in the November 6th General Election. The swearing in occurred. Pictures were
taken; flags were distributed, and a ‘class picture’ was taken on the front
steps of the Court House. a coffee and cake reception followed. Smiles were
everywhere. We need more days like this.
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