WASHINGTON — The judge slipped on his black robe as court began for the day. The prosecutor made a motion, and the clerk administered the oath. The graves of soldiers, freshly dug and from centuries past, bore silent witness.
The 70 people summoned before U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III had committed no crime — it was one of the happiest days of their lives.
Ellis had moved his Alexandria courtroom to Arlington National Cemetery to swear in immigrants from more than 30 countries as U.S. citizens, the first time a naturalization ceremony has been held there in the cemetery’s 144-year history. He wanted to impress upon the new citizens the sacrifices made for their freedom.
“This is truly a wonderful day,” said Ellis, his voice cracking as he gave an emotional tribute to the virtues of citizenship, U.S. history and the warriors buried around him. “It is a wonderful day for each of you because today, you will join the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
Ellis, 68, is also an immigrant, born in Bogotá, Colombia. For years, he has presided over naturalization ceremonies on the third Thursday of each month at the U.S. courthouse in Alexandria. As he approaches retirement, he decided to try a different, more meaningful setting, court officials said.
“I did it to honor our country’s warriors and to give the new citizens a sense for what makes this country great,” Ellis said.
Gary Thomas of Reston, Va., said it was “amazing” to watch his wife, Amina, take the oath. She came to the United States from Morocco in 2000 and had been a lawful permanent resident. Their three young children sat nearby, waving American flags.
“We have a group of new citizens in a place where previous citizens have given their lives and are remembered,” he said.
“I want to cry,” his wife said. “It feels wonderful.”
