Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is observed each year on September 17th to commemorate the signing of the Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787 and to “recognize all who, by coming of age or naturalization, have become citizens” of this country.  In addition, September 17-23 is also recognized as Constitution Week.  The Constitution, along with the Bill of Rights and other amendments, define our government and guarantee our rights as citizens.

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While in high school, I not only attended but also sung with my school’s concert choir at a naturalization ceremony in New Bern, North Carolina.  This unique opportunity came about due to our choir director’s diligence to make our participation in the town’s annual Chrysanthemum Festival as meaningful as possible.  And, I must admit, as a teenager I thought witnessing strangers take the oath of citizenship was a pretty cool and patriotic experience – but one of many such experiences I had the privilege of taking part in as a member of different school music ensembles for both band and chorus.

However, in life, the more you live, the more experience you gain, and the more fully you come to understand and appreciate what you witness, participate in, and/or learn from others.

So, last January, (on January 26, 2016 to be exact) I had – for the second time in my life – the privilege of witnessing a naturalization ceremony.  But, this one was much more personal, and therefore, much more meaningful to me than the first.

Why?  Because it wasn’t just a room full of strangers on this occasion – instead, seated around me (especially in the center section of soon-to-be citizens) were people who were parents and children, friends and relatives, siblings and spouses – including my own family member.

With that being said, I invite you to listen to a portion of the speech given during that memorable day in my and my family member’s life by a USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) official on what it means to become and then be a US citizen:

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The greatest difference between my first experience and this second one was that I and these individuals who had not known each other just hours before weren’t only witnessing but also sharing in this special moment together.  And, I for one had an immense sense of pride and patriotism throughout for what that afternoon’s stately order of events represented.

You see, that naturalization ceremony marked for us all the culmination of many years documenting, photographing, filing paperwork, paying fees, making trips, scheduling appointments, waiting (… uggghhh! lots of waiting), following up on submitted records, studying civics lessons, being interviewed, and seeking assistance of all kinds from friends, employers, foreign language translators, USCIS employees, US embassy employees – hell, even employees at places like the post office, Kinko’s, Target, Walgreens, Starbucks… you name it!

So, yeah… by that point in my life last January, I truly “got it” – meaning, I understood why witnessing immigrants take the oath of citizenship was (and is) a pretty cool patriotic experience. So much so, that today I feel it’s one every US-born citizen should witness at least once – or better yet, if you’re like me, twice – in their own lives.

And, during that ceremony, I believe every person should pause for a moment to meditate on the amount of time, effort, money, and determination those immigrants receiving – or still seeking to earn – citizenship in this country had to put forth (along with their families) to reach a status that we, as citizens by birth, take so easily – and sometimes, shamelessly – for granted these days.

Now, I ask you…after hearing this speech and reading about my take on attending naturalization ceremonies:

How will you continue to reflect, embody, and take action – today and hereafter (especially on those occasions when it appears as though the country is tearing itself or being torn apart at its seams) – on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and on what it means to be a U.S. citizen?