25 new U.S. citizens take their oaths at grand opening of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Royal Palm Beach

By DIANNA SMITH
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 13, 2009

ROYAL PALM BEACH — It took him 30 years to get here.

After Kalvin Berice Lindo became an American citizen on Thursday, he kissed his crying wife, took a deep breath and said, "I finally feel like I'm part of the world."

The 55-year-old man, originally from Jamaica, stood proudly with 24 others as they vowed to be great Americans. And though naturalization ceremonies take place at least twice a week in Palm Beach County, this ceremony was even more special because it took place at the grand opening of the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building on Belvedere Road in Royal Palm Beach.

U.S. Rep Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, and newly inducted USCIS director Alejandro Mayorkas were on hand for the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony and to congratulate the 25 for their accomplishments.

"It's a wonderful moment you'll remember forever," Klein said. "You have a special responsibility to take it upon yourself to make our country stronger and better."

The 38,000 square foot building, which opened in March, is expected to process 57,000 customers a year. More than one million people become U.S. citizens each year and about 8,000 of those become citizens here in Palm Beach County, said Sharon Scheidhauer, USCIS spokeswoman.

Martino Bologna, 51, of Boca Raton, also became a citizen on Thursday. He planned to spend the rest of the afternoon framing his flag and the certificate he's been longing for.

Bologna was born in Italy and came to America in 1971.

"This country has been so kind," he said. "There are a lot of places in the world where people are not free. We have a lot of freedom here."

Lindo, who lives with his wife, Gingerlee, in Sebring, works as a superintendent for a construction company. He rarely takes time off work, but this week, he said he took Thursday and today: Thursday because he reached his dream of becoming an American; today, because he will register to vote.

"There's no place else but where I am right now," Lindo said after the ceremony. "It means everything to me."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/services/c ... =ynews_rss