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March 30, 2007
Governor deJongh address Naturalization Ceremony Governor John deJongh, Jr. was among the speakers at today's ceremonies for 195 naturalized U.S. citizens. The ceremony was organized by the U.S. District Court and held at the Reichhold Center on St. Thomas. Below is the text of Governor deJongh's prepared remarks:
Today is a very special day--one that you have been anticipating and working toward with dedication and perseverance. You are starting a new path in your lives, and so today is a day that represents the beginning of a new chapter in your life-- for you are becoming naturalized citizens of the United States of America, and with that right, you will be freely carrying all of the benefits and privileges of that association. So today, allow me to be one of the first to congratulate you on your achievement in coming this far, along this special journey, in reaching towards your highest goals and personal dreams. It is indeed an honor to be here with you today, beside this flag and in the company of other citizens of the United States all in recognition of your accomplishments as citizens-designee of our great nation. As we gather here in our various professional capacities, and from a wide array of different backgrounds, we are reminded of the significance of service to community--and to country. Maintaining and even restoring the fabric of our society is an everyday challenge, but it is also a blessing, as through that spirit of cooperation and unity, even of patriotism, that we prosper together--as a territory, as a country, and as a people. So I encourage you, if you are not already involved in a local organization or foundation, to join a community group, mentor a young person, donate to a library, or participate in some other, relevant and civic-related manner. This is your country, your backyard, and your neighborhood, so in the spirit of community involvement, take a moment to consider how you may play a larger role in support of your on-island family, this Virgin Islands community. I would like to thank you for your commitment to the applications process and for coming here to take the oath of citizenship today in this naturalization ceremony. 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. On more than one occasion, we have been tested and throughout history, we as a people and as a nation have persevered and triumphed so that we may lead balanced and productive lives in order to--as the preamble to the constitution states: “form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” Given this awesome responsibility, we are blessed to be here together as we continue to form our union and develop its character to its maximum utility and strength. The various skills and capacities that each of you bring to the table jointly contributes to our definition of a territory and a country. So on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands, it is my honor to wish you good luck and extend my best wishes for your continued success and prosperity. U.S. citizenship affords a shared association that is now a part of your life---it starts today. May god be with you along your new journey, and for the duration of your endeavors as a naturalized citizen of the United States of America. As we go forward, in fact tomorrow, we will be celebrating our 90th anniversary of transfer day here in the Virgin Islands, originally occurring on March 31, 1917. We will be observing the transfer of the territory from the kingdom of Denmark to the United States of America. The formal transfer ushered in a new day of hope and opportunity for islanders, and the islands have certainly prospered and progressed under American leadership thanks to the creative and cooperative efforts of community-led and community-sponsored initiatives, programs, and business ventures. Both the public and private sectors played a decisive role in the expansion of the territory’s progress, and the Virgin Islands is now a dynamic center of economic development with a vision for an even brighter future and a more dynamic tomorrow. In that same spirit of new horizons, your individual efforts as new citizens will contribute to the story of the Virgin Islands. Just as there was a new day of hope and opportunity for the islands with the original transfer, there is now a new day for you, as well. In just a few months you will again see democracy in action as the Virgin Islands begins the process towards developing its own constitution. With a V.I. Constitution, Virgin Islanders will build on its relationship with the United States and will further define its political status. May your “new day” be all that you have dreamed of and all that you wish for as full citizens of the United States of America. Congratulations. |
