Immigrants Become Naturalized Citizens On Flag Day

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Thursday marks a new life in America for dozens of naturalized immigrants.

As Gigi Barnett explains, the new citizens are celebrating on a national holiday.

"...Against all enemies foreign and domestic."

These are the words to a new life in America.

More than 40 immigrants became U.S. citizens at the Maryland Historical Society. For them, a new journey has begun.

"Can you imagine this process has been going on for generations? And it's absolutely amazing-- coming to this country and being welcomed," said Burt Kummerow, president of the Maryland Historical Society.

Margaret Ann-Marie Hall from Trinidad started the process 15 years ago. She had a green card then. Now, a certificate makes her citizenship permanent and official.

"I always wanted to come to America. You can make up your mind what you want to do here and get it done," she said.

Now, she'll celebrate with friends and a plate of curry chicken.

"I got up early and cooked it and I'm going to invite them for lunch and we can just sit down and talk, you know?" she said.

Kummerow says the ceremony is fitting at the museum, which charts U.S. and Maryland history.

"The first immigrants came here in 1634 and of course, there were Native Americans already here. But that started this whole chain, this whole process," he explained.

More than 31 countries were represented. The Maryland Historical Society said that this was the first time it hosted a naturalization ceremony but it probably won't be the last.

The Maryland Historical Society says the ceremony was meaningful because the new citizens will always mark the occasion on Flag Day.