The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-11-05
10 LOCAL RESIDENTS


Continued From Page Onel
blouse and skirt, and the more
somber clothes of the ~ year
old new citizen were arraYed
before the bench.
They stood with their right hands
raised as Gwynn read the simple
yet beautiful oath of allegiance.
Each person kept his hand raised
as each was called upon to say II
do" to the allegiance.
Judge Holland then called
forth the two men who cannot
speak English. Because they are
over fifty and because they have
lived in the States more than 20
years they are eligible for citi.
zenship. He called Hello Gomez
attorney TO interpret phrase by
phrase the oath of allegiance so
that Cuban.born men could un-
derstand clearly fine obligations
and privileges of US. citizen.
ship.
The new citizens then were di-
rected to line up on either side
while Judge Holland called Circuit
Court Judge Aquilino Lopez. Jr.,
to the bench to sit along side him.
He presented Judge Lopez to the
new citizens saying that one Of
Lopez relatives (Jesus Fernandez,
his mothers brother) had become
citizen today.
Judge Lopez said;
1T is indeed a pleasure to adj
dress you because | am a natura-
lized citizen myself My uncle is
here today becoming a citizen to-
day.
III is indeed privilege to be
an American citizen. An Ameri-
can passport is an invitation to
visit the counties of Western Eu.
rope as learned this summer.
| was treated like a member of
the family.
'In order to have the privilege
of being a citizen, all citizens
should perform certain duties,
among them voting.
bad officials are elected be.
cause the people don't vote. So use
your vote now that you are citi-
ZenS for whom YOU think is Quail.
fled"
Judge Lopez told the men and
women that citizenship carrie
with it the duty to bear arms or
perform necessary dtuies during
emergencies.
"obey the laws. Follow the
rules. Then fhe United States
will be as proud to have you as
citizens as you are proud to be
citizens. | wish you all the luck
in fhe world"
Judge Holland said that as a
naturalized citizen Judge Lopez
had distinguished himself.
Adams then presented the red,
white and blue book of the I'm
migration and Naturalization Ser
| vice; Welcome to the New Citi-
zen" on the occasion of his ma
turalization.
Each citizen proudly carried out
of the courtroom the little booklet
(which has the oath of allegiance,
The Star Spangled Banner, the du
ties and rights and privileges of q
citizen and the five qualities of
the citizen.
Judge Holland urged the new
citizens to study carefully the
booklet. He told the citizens that
he trusted they would really enjoy
their new status and measure up
to it.
"our country is Just as strong
as each link in the chain. This
great chain OF American citizen
ship won't break down because
Of one weak link. But we should
all be strong links"
George A. Bradshaw, officer in
charge of immigration and Natura-
lization at Key West. originally
called as an interpreter for the
non-English speaking citizens, gave
his place to Hello Gomez. young
attorney, who said Bradshaw,
speaks a very good Spanish.
Judge Lopez saw not only his
uncle becoming naturalizated but
three close friends.
The beaming new citizens were