Inside the federal courthouse in downtown Buffalo, 60 people from 28 countries became U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony.
America's newest citizens brought with them back stories as diverse as their places of birth. Some were refugees from war-torn or politically oppressed lands. Some arrived on U.S. soil as children with their families. Others fell in love with an American and joined them as citizens. And some came to America as employees of global companies but stayed here long enough to decide to become citizens.
Such was the case with Milind Khadilkar, a native of India who has worked in Buffalo for more than ten years. With his family, he decided it was time to become citizens.
"I'm feeling very proud today. It's a real moment in the life," said Khadilkar. "We decided to make this decision after almost 13 years."
Miguel Rodrigues first came to the United States at the age of 7, when his father decided to bring his family to America. As Rodrigues describes his father's decision, he was man who felt he was simply born in the wrong country.
"He was born in Brazil but always kind of loved America and always wanted to be part of it," he explained. "When I was 7 years old, he moved my entire family to Miami, and we've been here since."
Rodrigues spoke of some of the odd things he envisioned as American "prosperity" during his youth, including wearing braces and, of all things, having a cast on a limb after suffering an injury.
"It doesn't make any sense now, but for some reason those were signs of prosperity for me compared to what I saw back home in Brazil."
The Honorable Carl Bucki presided over the ceremony which coincided with Citizenship Day, one of two special days recognized on the September 17 by the federal government. The other is Constitution Day.
Judge Bucki, while reminding these new citizens of the responsibilities that come with their new status, encouraged them to "honor your past." He addressed them as "my friends" at the start of the ceremony, then ended the ceremony by calling them "my fellow citizens."
The nations from which these people came are: Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Burma, Canada, China, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Poland, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vietnam and Yemen.
And as these new Americans parted the courthouse, Khadilkar was asked how he and his family would celebrate their first day as U.S. citizens.
"We're going to celebrate with our old Buffalo colleague. He is also my office colleague, the first one to receive me at the airport in 2002," he said. "Sharing some sweets, then going back home and my wife is going to school. Hopefully in the evening we'll have some type of celebration."
