Sue Dismukes, Linda Pinner, Judge Hawthorn, June White-Dennis, and Kate Jabbia prepare for the swearing-in ceremony.

New American citizens were sworn in six times last year in Beaumont by Judge Liam Hawthorn and Judge Keith Giblin. The last scheduled naturalization event took place in late 2018. Members of the Colonel George Moffett Chapter, NSDAR were present to welcome the new citizens. One hundred eighteen immigrants from 23 countries took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America. DAR presented each with a small card with the Pledge of Allegiance on one side and the American’s Creed on the back, as well as a small American flag. The Americanism Committee hosted a reception to honor them after the ceremony.

A family poses for a remembrance of the day

Chapter members Sue Dismukes, Americanism chair Linda Pinner, and June White-Dennis welcome a new American family from Nigeria. Each judge posed with every new citizen who wanted a photograph made of this important day.

The immigrations officer certified that each person presented had met all the qualifications to become a citizen. This involved hard work as they learned about our democratic form of government and passed written tests about it. Each immigrant stood as they were introduced and their country of origin was given. After the immigrants took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States, everyone stood and said the Pledge. The judge gave a short talk about the benefits, rights and responsibilities of being a citizen. Judge Hawthorn said, "In a courtroom, there is usually a winner and a loser. Sometimes there are only losers. But today, you are all winners."