For the 38 petitioners who became brand new American citizens Wednesday morning in V.I. District Court, the day has added significance: sharing the date with the U.S. Virgin Islands, when the territory itself took the oath 93 years ago.
The normally austere courtroom was filled with an audible spirit of excitement and anticipation Wednesday as the eager "just-about-Americans" awaited their moment to receive their certificates of citizenship.
District Court Judge Curtis Gomez encouraged the audience – the courtroom was filled to standing room with family and friends of the honorees – to join in singing the "National Anthem" and the "V.I. March."
Gomez set the tone for the morning – jubilant but serious.
"Normally," intoned the judge, "there is no singing in my courtroom." However, with a generous smile, he allowed as to how this day was different. "One of my pleasures is when I get to do these ceremonies," Gomez said "People come to me for one thing, and when they get it, they go away happy. That doesn’t always happen in court, everyone going home happy."
Following Gomez’s remarks, Leslie Meeker, U.S. Field Office director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, presented the petitions for naturalization. Cheers went up as Meeker read the names of the 12 countries represented by the 38 petitioners: Jamaica, Anguilla, Grenada, the Philippines, India, Canada, St. Vincent-Grenadines, the British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts-Nevis and Dominica.
After the collective administration of the oath by district court deputy clerk Lydia Trotman, guest speaker Anuvrata Mimoun carried the spirit of the morning. The petite businesswoman told the group seated before her: "I have sat where you sit. I came from India, where I was quite happy at home. I had no dream of leaving India."
Encouraging the young citizens seated before her, Mimoun admonished them to take the opportunities America offers, and build on them. She recounted the story of a job opportunity that brought her to New York, and changed her life. America offered her an opportunity, she said. "I invested myself in it, and I continue to do so each day."
Gov. John deJongh Jr. told the new citizens, "Remember: freedom and democracy are rights that support us in our communities and give us legal, political and social standing in the lives that we lead. They provide a network of common ground and shared history, and they are rights that we continue to fight for."
Noting this is an election year, he reminded the group to exercise their new status and new rights by taking the responsibility to register and vote. "I also encourage you, if you are not already involved in a local organization, to join a community group, volunteer your time. Be involved, stay involved, make sure we hear you."
One new American who needed no encouragement was Carmen Partridge, who, just two days after the Haiti earthquake, founded the volunteer group, USVIHaitianRelief, a successful and ongoing effort.
Speaking after the ceremony, a glowing Partridge, a former Canadian, declined to elaborate on anything but the joy she was feeling at the moment. "I am just so happy to be an American under Obama," she said. "What an honor!"
The Transfer Day morning ceremony took time for a nod to history with a moving and finely detailed video produced on island, of the "Sale of the Danish West Indies," along with a video message from President Obama, complete with a rousing rendition of "I’m Proud to be an American," which Gomez, in his uncharacteristic role for the day, encouraged one and all to sing along to. And, in his normally quiet courtroom, they complied.
The judge concluded his remarks to the newly minted citizens. "Remember this day," he said, "that you became not just U.S. citizens, but citizens on the transfer of the Virgin Islands to the United States of America."
He encouraged the new citizens to "follow their dreams," but reminded them that with those dreams, come responsibilities. "One of those responsibilities," he said, "is jury service, something near and dear to my heart."
