FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Above, Annie Kwock, left, and Jesus Corpuz were among 196 applicants
sworn in as U.S. citizens at the Blaisdell Center last night.

Attacks fail to deter
dream of citizenship

Nearly 200 people were sworn in
as U.S. citizens last night at
Blaisdell Center

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com

Some Honolulu residents have felt more driven to become American citizens in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the East Coast.

"I feel more stronger now to be an American," said Maria Cristina Reeder, originally from Colombia, a gymnastics coach at the Hawaii Academy. "If the government needs some help, I can help."

Donald Radcliffe, district director of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, said, "Through trying times, it doesn't deter them from becoming American citizens."

Nearly 200 men and women were sworn in as American citizens last night in the Pikake Room at the Blaisdell Center.

Some dressed in red, white and blue to symbolize their new country's colors in the first Citizen Day Program after planes crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon during last Tuesday's attack.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Emily Valu-Naufahu, another new citizen,
listens intently during the ceremony.

Each was handed a small American flag to hold during the program. About 300 people filled the Pikake Room to watch their friends and family be sworn in by U.S. Chief District Judge David Ezra.

Yemen native Ahmed Shamman lived in Hawaii for seven years before becoming an American citizen. Although his family remains rooted in Yemen, Shaman said, "This is my country."

Now a citizen, Shaman hopes to one day bring his family to the United States.

Fellow Yemen native Ameen Saleh, 40, was elated to be sworn in as a U.S. citizen.

After watching the attack on television and listening to the U.S. government targeting Osama bin Laden, an exiled Saudi Arabian, as the prime suspect, Saleh said, "It makes the Arabians look bad."

German native Jutta Madjar-Galanto was afraid the Citizen Day Program would be canceled after the terrorist attacks.

Now officially an American citizen, Galanto, a physician at Straub Clinic & Hospital, said she believes the newly sworn-in citizens can commit to providing support and assistance to the United States.

Christina Simpkins, a therapeutic aide for the Autism Society of Hawaii, said, "As a little girl (in Canada), I always looked at America with admiration."

Recently, someone asked Simpkins whether she wanted to return to Canada, where it's safe.

She responded, "That's the exact opposite of how I feel."