Under a bright blue sky with the train whistle echoing through Roaring Camp Railroads, 108 people from 27 countries raised their right arms and solemnly repeated the oath that made them citizens of the United States.
Shortly thereafter, they completed their first act as citizens, covering their hearts with their hands and saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
“You are now citizens of the greatest nation on Earth, the United States of America,” exclaimed John Gonzalez, an immigration services officer from the San Jose office.
The annual Fourth of July ‘Proud to be an American’ citizenship ceremony took place on June 30 at Roaring Camp Railroads and was co-organized by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.
It was an especially joyous day for the le Roux family of Ben Lomond.
Ralph le Roux, a native South African who brought his family to the United States during the dot-com boom of the late 1990s, was the last of his immediate family to become a citizen.
“It’s a great personal satisfaction,” le Roux said. “It’s a huge responsibility to bring your family here.”
Le Roux’s wife, Kerry, and 9-year-old son, Aiden, became citizens last month, joining 6-year-old daughter Maddy, who was born a citizen.
“We’re very excited to be able to vote,” Kerry said.
Le Roux, who came to the U.S. following the boom of jobs, survived “many” rounds of layoffs at his company during the following dot-com bust. If he had lost his job before becoming a citizen, it would have been only a short time before he would have had to return to South Africa.
To make the day even more special, Ralph’s mother, Colleen le Roux, traveled from South Africa to witness her son take his oath.
“It’s worth all the long hours on the flight,” Colleen said.
Today, le Roux owns his own firm, mADi Group Architecture and Planners, and his two children attend San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School.
“A client of mine, he said, ‘Now you can have lunch and criticize the government,’” chuckled le Roux.
Le Roux was the only South African who earned citizenship at the ceremony. Mexico led the way with 44 new U.S. citizens, followed by the Philippines with seven.
Both Farr and Eshoo delivered remarks at the ceremony, while Santa Cruz County Supervisor Mark Stone emceed the proceedings.
Eshoo encouraged the new citizens to participate in the democratic process.
“You share the blessings of citizenship, but also the responsibility that comes with it,” Eshoo said.
The keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Aida Hurtado, a professor at University of California, Santa Cruz.
The county elections office and post office officials attended and urged the new citizens to register to vote and to obtain a passport.
