Following a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Sept. 16, Johnston’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building, the new home of the Providence Field Office, held its first citizenship ceremony.

Judge Lincoln Almond, U.S. District Court, was on hand to administer the Oath of Allegiance to 22 candidates who hailed from 15 different countries from Australia and Brazil to Cambodia and Kampuchea.

Rhode Island is one of only a few states to have a judge administer the oath.

“Citizenship in this country is a privilege and too often taken for granted by those born into it,” said Almond.

He urged the country’s newest citizens to further their educational opportunities, and to register to vote.

The oath has remained largely unchanged since the time of George Washington, according to Michael Aytes, USCIS acting deputy director. He likened the ceremony to a birthday.

“This is now your second birthday and you can tell all your family and friends that you expect presents,” he quipped.

During the ceremony, Aytes presented the ABC award – “American by Choice” – to Virginia da Mota, born in Portugal. A teacher for 32 years, she helped to found the International School in 2002, and is an adjunct professor in Portuguese Studies at Brown University. She came to this country in 1967 with her parents, who were in the audience last week.

Da Mota led the new citizens in the Pledge of Allegiance. A video message from President Barack Obama was also presented, in which he welcomed the new citizens.

“I’m so excited – I have goose bumps,” said Johnston resident Janet Harrison, an Immigration Services officer for 22 years, as she watched from the rear of the room. “I love what I do. When we let them out of the ceremony, I get high fives and hugs.”

The next day, Sept. 17, was a largely unheard of federal holiday called Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

A film crew from The History Channel was present to document the first ceremony to be held in the Johnston office – as well as the Lawrence, Mass., office – the footage will be used in the creation of a film installation to be shown at Ellis Island’s “Citizens Hall.”