Twenty-four-year-old Jinous Lotfi celebrated her birthday Tuesday in an unforgettable, star-spangled way: She became a United States citizen.
Lotfi was among about 600 people from 77 countries who swore allegiance to the United States during a naturalization ceremony in Denver.
Under a cloudless, beautifully blue Colorado sky, and with Civic Center’s Greek Amphitheater as a backdrop, speakers at the morning ceremony encouraged new citizens to hold onto their roots, embrace and participate in democracy, contribute to America and vote.
“Beautiful,” Lotfi said with a smile, when asked to describe the day.
“Of course I’m going to vote,” she added.
Lotfi, according to the ceremony program, was among five Iranians who became citizens.
Jose Pena, 32, came to America more than 10 years ago from his native El Salvador.
“It’s a pretty nice experience,” said Pena, flashing a smile and looking relieved.
A heavy-equipment operator who digs ditches and moves earth, Pena said he plans on voting and also going back to school “to learn more.”
Before the program, volunteers with the Daughters of the American Revolution handed out small U.S. flags and bottles of water.
Bill Vidal, Denver’s director of public works, immigrated from Cuba to the U.S. as a 10-year-old along with two brothers and spent years in a Pueblo orphanage. He told the crowd he related to the applicants’ experiences, difficulties and obstacles in gaining citizenship. He also spoke of reward.
“This country has given me great opportunity,” Vidal said.
After the ceremony, the new Americans smiled as they sought out family and friends. Hugs gave way to tears of joy and numerous photo opportunities.
Nana Amponsah, 48, came from the Republic of Ghana in West Africa in 1995.
He left his family — a wife and three children — as he strived to build an American life.
Distance and time took a toll on his marriage; Amponsah was divorced four years ago, he said.
Now, he hopes his teenage children can join him in Colorado to take advantage of educational opportunities.
“I feel excited,” he said.
Gaby Diaz, 33, who hails from Peru, will give birth to her first child, a boy, sometime around Thanksgiving Day.
“Now he’ll have an American mother,” she said, rubbing her belly. “It’s real exciting. I’m mostly excited because now I’ll be able to vote.”
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
