Karina Patch, New American Citizen

About 15 years ago, my friend and former student Brent Patch (Env Eng '94) headed down to Mexico. He fell in love with a beautiful young woman, and after another trip or two south they married, settled in the states, and began a family. Karina became very interested in last year's presidential election and that, among other reasons, motivated her to obtain U.S. citizenship.

Honored to attend the ceremony, Mrs ER and I drove over to the Pocatello, Idaho, area where Brent & Karina live, and joined them for the trek to Boise next day. Here's a nervous Karina with her son Adler and daughter Kenia, just before the ceremony:

Like all things governmental, the process began with paperwork for Karina and the other new citizens from all over the globe:

This was followed by a speech that reminded Mrs ER of our own pride and ownership in this marvellous country, and of what citizenship must have meant to our own immigrant ancestors from Italy (Mrs ER) and Ireland (ER):

The oath of allegiance further affirmed the obligations that accompany our grand freedoms:
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

After the oath, the President of the United States said a few words (via a recording), recalling his own experience with the promise of America, where any child can grow up, work hard, and become President:

Karina with her happy family:

Back home in Chubbuck, a party was held in Karina's honor. Naturally, gifts included things like stars & stripes table runners and an apple pie:

Congratulations, Karina!