Samuel Tucker Elementary students sing about the U.S. Constitution. Photo by Vernon Miles.
From the oldest Alexandrians to the newest, citizens came together at City Hall for a series of events celebrating the city and the nation.
Constitution Day is an annual celebration of the adoption of the United States Constitution. In Alexandria, this celebration is stretched out into Constitution Week, from Sept. 17 through 23. with events and informational meetings hosted by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
On Sept. 12, the DAR hosted an event in City Council chambers themed around a proclamation by Mayor Allison Silberberg commemorating Constitution Week. Children from several local elementary schools sat to hear reenacted stories about early colonial America.
There are few Alexandrians more qualified to talk about colonial Alexandria than Richard Conway. Conway, played by reenactor Chuck Aldrich, told them firsthand about his friend George Washington and retold stories about the constitutional convention. The celebration included songs about the constitution and the nation performed by groups of students.
An older group held a similar celebration of citizenship a few hours later. Outside City Hall, 28 people came together from 20 different countries to swear in as naturalized citizens.
At the ceremony, Silberberg asked the new residents not to let the national bickering, violence, and hate speech tarnish their view of their new country. But for most of those at the ceremony, it was an unnecessary concern. In a small gathering after the ceremony with their families, the new citizens expressed unmitigated joy and optimism about their home.
“It feels amazing,” said Det Binn, who was getting ready to go back to work at a late night shift in a data center. “It was about a nine-month process and being here today… it just feel so good.”
Tsehai Berehe was one of the older citizens being naturalized, and before calling the others up to the stage, Silberberg and other officials went into the audience to hand Berehe her citizenship papers.
“I’m feeling so happy,” said Berehe, an immigrant from Ethiopia. “I really appreciate this. I wish everyone in the world could have this opportunity.”
“I’m very proud,” said Natalia Farakh from Belarus. “It feels a little different now. It feels like everything is possible. I’ve been waiting for that for six years.”
Kareem Mohammed attended the ceremony with his family. Like the other naturalized citizens, Mohammed speaks English, but for clarity his daughter helped to translate some of his excitement.
“It feels like I was just born today,” said Mohammed, originally from Iraq. “It’s the most happy day for me in 46 years. I feel like a person with freedom.”
Many of those getting their citizenship said the process was easier than they’d expected. Mohammed said that getting his citizenship was easier than he’d thought it would be.
“It was approximately six months and it was a smooth process with nice people along the way,” said Farakh. “I was pleasantly surprised.”
Now that they have their citizenship, many of the newly naturalized citizens expressed fierce pride for their country.
“It’s a protection for people,” said Mohammed, pointing to his new citizenship papers. “It makes everyone equal. It feels like being human. I will be loyal to America until the day I die.”