PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Some of the newest and youngest U.S. citizens in the region were celebrated Tuesday morning in Old City.
The Betsy Ross House hosted its annual naturalization ceremony for 14 children from nine different countries. While the ceremony made it official, the process was years in the making.
“You all have your individual cultures and religions and you’re adding to this country so that we become stronger and richer in our country,” said Carla Clarke, one of the people who welcomed them with their certificates at the Betsy Ross House courtyard.
“There will be struggles,” Clarke told them. “There will be great joys. There will be challenges, but in all of it, you are now United States citizens. Welcome to the United States of America, as a citizen.”
Twelve-year-old Jayden Boakye, who is originally from Ghana, has lived in the United States for the last five years. His favorite part of the ceremony was saying the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time as a citizen.
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His brother, 8-year-old Damian, also received citizenship. America is the only home he remembers. It was a special moment for their father, Earnest Boakye, who became a U.S. citizen eight years ago.
“What I like most about the United States is the opportunity given to immigrants — those of us who have moved up here — in terms of education, in terms of jobs, in terms of improvement of life,” he said.
Jayden already knows his favorite thing about being a U.S. citizen: “freedom.”
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