2006 Naturalization Ceremony (As Written)

July 4, 2006

My fellow citizens of the United States�welcome and congratulations!

This is an extraordinarily important day for you and for your families. Today you make whole the promise of the American dream�to become not just a citizen but an engaged citizen, to become not just a voter but a perfect voter, and to not simply share and enjoy the privileges that flow from citizenship, but to serve and to give back to your country.

Two hundred and thirty years ago today in Philadelphia, representatives assembled and declared that all men�and, by extension, all women�are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It was a radical declaration in a not very radical era. It reminds us of the power of ideas. It ennobles us as Americans. It serves as an example to all the people of the world that democracy is a precious thing.

Consider last week, when the U.S. Senate voted on a constitutional amendment to prohibit flag burning. The American flag�our most cherished emblem of patriotism� and yet men and women of courage stood up, agreeing to disagree. Freedom of speech must never be abridged, the first amendment to our Constitution reads. Our flag is sacred, others argued. Only in a representative democracy could such a debate take place, without repression or bloodshed.

With rights come responsibilities. You�ve demonstrated that you can strive and achieve great things. Now is not the time to rest. Now is the time to take the energy, time, and commitment it took to reach this day and recast it into something glorious. Today I hope you will commit to giving back, to making a meaningful difference in the lives of your neighbors and your communities. Seize the day!

Our state has strongly supported service programs and volunteer initiatives for dozens of years. I hope that you do your part, that you embrace what is known as national and community service. Consider programs such as AmeriCorps, or the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Washington Reading Corps, or the armed forces. Washington has the third-largest number of AmeriCorps members hosted by any state and you can be a part of this tradition of service! We are proud of our pioneering efforts to develop the Program for Local Service in the mid 1970�s and the Washington Service Corps and Washington Conservation Corps in 1983.

So go serve, be a �Big Citizen.�

A Big Citizen votes regularly, a Big Citizen gives back to his or her community, and a Big Citizen breathes life into the spirit of the Declaration of Independence and the founding principles of our nation.

Asking for sacrifice from our fellow citizens is always a challenge. But sacrifice will make you better citizens and better human beings. To be a citizen is also to be a volunteer, to become a part of something greater than yourself: It won�t make you wealthy, but it will enrich your life and the lives of those you serve. It will fulfill you and challenge you. It will make our small corner of the world a better place.

I hope each of you considers a life of service to others: To serve others and to not lose your way; to take risks while staying true to your core values as citizens and family members.

In our state alone, just over 79,000 people will turn 60 years of age next year. In 2010, that figure will reach 84,000 individuals per year. This is an extremely important segment of our state population because national studies show that more than half want to be involved in activities that directly improve the quality of life in their communities. Be one of them.

Our very democracy depends on an engaged citizenry�on people like you. It�s simply not enough to pay taxes and vote. Now more than ever, we need your most precious commodity�your time. Join your neighborhood association, join your school board, tutor a child, or run for political office. You�re Americans now; you should be very proud.

My fellow citizens, congratulations again.

Thank you.

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