MENTOR, Ohio — One by one, they accepted a handshake, a certificate, and a promise. The promise of a better future. The promise of America.
Sulatu was born in Nigeria. She “came here for freedom,” according to Saheed Lateef, who translated for her. Friday, Sulatu was one of 25 people who gathered at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site to start a new journey as an American citizen.
“She said she’s so happy; that today is a very glorious day for her; that she will be glad to raise her hand and say that she is an American,” Sulatu said through Lateef.
Site manager Todd Arrington told News 5 that the location for this ceremony was chosen specifically for all it represents.
“National parks exist so that everyone can draw inspiration from nature, they can participate in outdoor recreation, they can learn about American history,” he said.
Arrington welcomed the new citizens at this ceremony, an occasion he said he looks forward to every year. There’s always a ceremony around Independence Day and one around Constitution Day in September.
“It’s such a great thing to see people who’ve worked for so long and so hard to achieve a goal and become American citizens,” he said.
As each new American came up for their certificate, they were asked to place a pin on a map, marking their country of origin. Now, as Arrington laid out, our history is their history as well. All the good, the bad and the ugly. As of this day, we are all Americans.
“It’s something that I think a lot of us who were born here probably don’t think too much about,” he said. “Or maybe even take for granted.
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