DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – 40 United States citizens were welcomed at the Iowa State Capitol Friday during a naturalization ceremony representing more than a dozen countries.
The event is part of the country’s year-long 250th birthday celebration.
Participants raised their right hand and took the oath of allegiance to officially become U.S. citizens.
Secretary of State Paul Pate said becoming a citizen also means taking on a role in the country’s democratic process.
“We celebrate not only your achievement of the U.S. citizenship, but what it represents. A commitment to investing in our future to engage, participate, and strengthen our democracy,” Pate said.
Pate also urged the new citizens to use their new right to vote and participate in this year’s midterm elections.
Simon Brown was part of that ceremony, “I initially came over in 2010 on a soccer scholarship. So yeah, about 16 years now and some opportunities now. I work in soccer and education,” he said.
Brown is one of 40 people naturalized at Friday’s ceremony. Countries of origin include Vietnam, Mexico, and Bosnia.
Originally from Ireland, Brown first came to the U.S. to play soccer. Since then, he’s coached high school and college teams in Iowa and now serves as an assistant coach in Wisconsin.
Brown said living in the U.S. opened doors he wouldn’t have had otherwise.
“I could have done anything that I wanted here to get an education. I didn’t have the opportunity to go back home. I have a master’s degree now. So all those things are really important to me. And being able to continue my career and make a life for myself here,” Brown said.
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