Page 21 - Flathead Beacon // 9.28.16

Members of the Kalispell Civil Air Patrol retire the colors during a naturalization ceremony at the Apgar amphitheater in Glacier National Park.
Sandrine Tochem shows her stamped passport.
Cathy Lane, with the Chief Ignace Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, passes out American ags during a naturalization ceremony.
that other than our proud Native Amer- ican citizens, we all came to the United States from somewhere else,” Chris- tensen said. “Even though we are citi- zens of the United States, we are also cit- izens of the world. And it is your diverse life experiences that you bring to us that makes this country, the United States, a better and a stronger one.”
Neil Young. Henry Kissinger. Albert Einstein.
They are among the scores of immi- grants who have come to the United States in order to live in freedom, pursue
their dreams and take advantage of the opportunities America has to o er while making an impression on the world at large and in their own neighborhoods.
“We are a nation of immigrants,” Christensen said.
In fact, some 30 million immigrants entered the United States between 1870 and 1930, while between the years 1820 and 1930 the United States absorbed about 60 percent of the world’s immigrants.
Fast forward to 2014, when a total of 653,416 persons became naturalized
citizens in this country, with the leading countries of birth listed as Mexico, India, the Philippines, and the People’s Repub- lic of China.
“There are 11 of you here that will mark whatever the record will be in the year 2016,” Christensen said. “You can make an Einstein-like contribution to your community and your state. You all have so much to o er and I hope that you will give us what you have in terms of your life experiences and your wisdom and your knowledge. You are now part of the great and diverse American family.”
And with that, 11 new Americans exchanged hugs, smiles and tears among family members and friends before embarking on a Red Bus tour of the park, clutching their certi cates of naturaliza- tion, as well as another American priv- elege — among the items presented to the new citizens were voter registration cards.
“Isn’t it exciting,” Christensen said, “that your becoming a citizen coincides with the great American pastime of vot- ing in a presidential election every four years?” MORE ON PAGE 22 
SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
21