Philadelphia Winn Chapter NSDAR Joins Naturalized Citizens In Celebration

On Friday, June 14, 2013, seven members of Philadelphia Winn Chapter NSDAR provided  refreshments for 149 new citizens representing 57 countries following a Naturalization Ceremony in Atlanta at the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia.  

U. S. Magistrate Judge E. Clayton Scofield began proceedings and asked the court to rise for the Presentation of Colors by the Piedmont Chapter Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard. Following the pageantry, U.S. Attorney Stephanie Gabay-Smith called names from the roll. One-by-one 149 immigrants stood and repeated their names and that of their home countries.

Judge Scofield then administered the oath that naturalized the immigrants into American citizens: "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 …" After the oath, they pledged allegiance to their new flag.

Guest Speaker Eileen Scofield, Head of Immigration Law, Alston & Bird, encouraged them to go forward by head and by heart. She noted we often use our head to go forward and other times our heart. She used attorneys as examples, who speak among themselves in heady legal code, but in the courtroom, they use the language of the heart.   

Judge Scofield introduced guests and asked for comments. Philadelphia Winn Chapter NSDAR Regent Peggy Freeman, dressed Colonial-style, gave a congratulatory welcome to the new citizens, and briefly explained the role of today's DAR. William Day Chapter NSDAR Regent Leslie Watkins offered her warm congratulations as well. 

Philadelphia Winn Daughters Ann Story, Sylvia Johnson, and Amy Koon, joined their regent in the receiving line that wound through the courtroom. Outside the court doors, Philadelphia Winn Americanism Committee Chairman Mary Lou Godbey and Daughter Sandi Christman set up refreshments. As the crowd drifted from the courtroom, Mary Lou and Sandi guided the new Americans and their families to refreshments offered in their honor.  

The Daughters then packed up their gear, cleaned up the tables, and headed down the elevator to the loading dock. Before driving off, they left a box of cookies for the security guards. 

If you would like to join Philadelphia Winn Chapter NSDAR, please email philwinndar.org.

• Contributed by Debra Houston with the Philadelphia Winn Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.