New citizens take oath aboard Old Ironsides

By Bryan Marquard, Globe Staff

Voice quavering ever so slightly, Seaman Ryan Ellis sang a patriot song yesterday for the 26 people who took the Oath of Citizenship on the dock next to his ship, the USS Constitution.

As they waved miniature American flags to the rhythm, the new US citizens began to join in, timidly at first, until by the end a full chorus born in Laos and Lebanon, in Syria, Switzerland and 16 other nations finished the final refrain: "God bless America, my home sweet home."

They may have been uncertain about adding their voices to an impromptu choir, but some of those interviewed were eager to participate in an impending rite of citizenship: voting in the November presidential election.

"The right to vote for me is very important," said Jill Hackett, who arrived from South Africa nine years ago on a Fulbright scholarship for graduate studies at Brandeis University and now is director of training at Partners in Health, an international healthcare advocacy group.

"You look at what's going on in Zimbabwe," she said of the widely-discredited presidential election in that African nation. "In this country, your vote counts. The power really lies in the hands of the citizens."

Though rain fell in fits and starts, the mood was bright as the newest citizens discussed hitting a trifecta of sorts for the swearing in ceremony.

They were taking the oath on the Fourth of July, the most patriotic holiday in their new home. As they raised their right hands, they faced the USS Constitution, a potent symbol of the continuing fight to preserve democracy. And after the ceremony, Vice President Dick Cheney stopped by to shake hands and ask the new citizens about their countries of origin.

Cheney was in Boston to attend a private military re-enlistment ceremony held later aboard the Constitution.

"I can't believe that on my first day as a citizen I shook hands with the vice president," said Dor Juravski, who used to live in Israel.

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