[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18024-18025]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BECOME CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF 
                        AMERICA ON JULY 4, 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 2007

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure and sincerity 
that I take this time to congratulate the individuals who will take 
their oath of citizenship on July 4, 2007. In true patriotic fashion, 
on the day of our great Nation's celebration of independence, a 
naturalization ceremony will take place, welcoming new citizens of the 
United States of America. This memorable occasion, coordinated by the 
Hammond Public Library and presided over by Magistrate Judge Andrew 
Rodovich, will be held at Harrison Park in Hammond, Indiana.
  America is a country founded by immigrants. From its beginning, 
settlers have come from countries around the globe to the United States 
in search of better lives for themselves and their families. The 
upcoming oath ceremony will be a shining example of what is so great 
about the United States of America--that people from all over the world 
can come together and unite as members of a free, democratic Nation. 
These individuals realize the great things America has to offer. They 
realize that there is nowhere else in the world that offers a better 
opportunity for success and a good life than here in America.
  On July 4, 2007, the following individuals, representing many 
countries throughout the world, will take their oath of citizenship in 
Hammond, Indiana: Daniela Gomez Alba, Vanhvilay Thongsawath, Fayez 
Ghaly Samaan, Sean David Sternfeldt, Maria Del Carmen Garcia, Khaled 
Abdullah Mohamed Alkadhi, Jovica Georgiev, Evica Jankovic, Khadija 
Nasreen, Muhammad Munawar Uddin, Ljubica Andonova, Yasser Yousof 
Hussein Alsalahi, Reina Ahmad Elabed, Heidemarie Nealon, Nidal Khaleel 
Bader, Rosa Navarro, Irma Guadalupe Gallegos, Victor Manuel Salas, 
Hildeberta Ignacio, Ivan Ignacio Esquival, Edgar Ignacio, Maria 
Gonzalez, Vassilka Ivanova Sokolova, Jose Ernesto Munoz Munoz, 
Margarita Lomeli, Rosalia Aguilar De Hernandez, Ramona Garcia, Hector 
Miguel Rivera Gallegos, Rafael Negrete Gentil, Stan Krzysztofiak, Juan 
Carlos Bustos, Angelina Rico De Becerra, Maria Teresa Paredes De 
Sanchez, Thomas William Fridel, Mirko Koceski, Zivka Koceski, Phuoc 
Hong Tran, Ramachandra Mukkamala, Cristina Chavez Melesio, Maureen 
Allyson Fridel, Omar Mehidi, Priya Venkata Vishnu Mukkamala, Kameswari 
Kalluri, Carlos Alberto Garcia Morales, Sonja Sabo-Djuric, Maria De 
Jesus Galvan Briseno, Paul Derek MacGregor, Layda Eunice Salazar, Mary 
Ortiz, and Nancy Takla.
  Though each individual has sought to become a citizen of the United 
States for his or her own reasons, be it for education, occupation, or 
to offer their loved ones better lives, each is inspired by the fact 
that the United States of America is, as Abraham Lincoln described it, 
a country ``. . . of the people, by the people, and for the people.'' 
They realize that the United States is truly a free Nation. By seeking 
American citizenship, they have made the decision that they want to 
live in a place where, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Bill 
of Rights, they can practice religion as they choose, speak their minds 
without fear of punishment, and assemble in peaceful protest should 
they choose to do so.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to 
join me in congratulating these individuals, who will become

[[Page 18025]]

citizens of the United States of America on July 4, 2007, the day of 
our Nation's independence. They, too, will be American citizens, and 
they, too, will be guaranteed the inalienable rights to life, liberty, 
and the pursuit of happiness. We, as a free and democratic society, 
congratulate them and welcome them.

                          ____________________