By Beth Pellicciotti, Second Vice President, LWV of Washington 

Recently, another League member and I agreed that volunteering at Voter Services tables can produce very special moments. I had one of these moments at a naturalization ceremony in June in Spokane for 20 new citizens. 

The weather was not auspicious for such an occasion: it was cold and cloudy, with rain looming. However, the event itself signaled an important beginning. It was the first in-person naturalization ceremony for our federal district court (which includes Yakima and Richland) since the start of the pandemic.   

It was also the beginning of the role of citizen for 20 people representing 16 countries, who, as the headline of the next day’s Spokesman-Review indicated, have “waited for this day for so long.” 

Chairs were set in careful rows; the judge waited under a tent with the seal of the federal court in front; and the LWV of the Spokane Area had its own tent, table, and clipboards. The soon-to-be new citizens arrived with families in tow.  The ceremony moved quickly: those assembled took the oath of citizenship, received Certificates of Naturalization, and then waited in line for a picture with the judge.  

My special moment came after the ceremony, when we had a line of people waiting to register to vote. In front of me stood an older gentleman, one of the new citizens, with his son and granddaughter. The granddaughter helped her grandfather complete the Voter Registration Form, and the son asked, “Can I register now, too?”   

At that moment, I remembered how several League members are now exploring the concept of “Be a Voting Family.” Here was a voting family in front of me.   

The granddaughter encouraged her grandfather to register; her father registered at the same time, and I hope the 16-year-old will follow up online. I told her she was eligible too, but she was committed to helping her grandfather, quickly translating from Spanish to English to complete the form.  

The grandfather received a copy of The State We’re In: Washington, the LWVWA civics textbook gifted to the Spokane League to hand out to new citizens. I was gifted by a special moment with a voting family. 

Spokane Area League member Becky Dickerhoof, right, with a new citizen’s family member from Idaho. The flags were popular with children, and the civics textbooks were front and center. (Photos by Beth Pellicciotti)

 

The ceremony was held in front of the Spokane baseball stadium, with a representative from the Sons of the Revolution in costume, left. The judge was under a tent with the U.S. District Court sign in front.   Photo: Beth Pellicciotti 

New citizens taking the Oath of Allegiance during the ceremony.