Naturalization Ceremony

Petitioners were given flags for the Naturalization Ceremony Friday, July 11, 2008, at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (KIT DOYLE)

Twenty-five peitioners took the Oath of Allegiance while becoming U.S. citizens Friday, July 11, 2008, in the Naturalization Ceremony at Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (KIT DOYLE)

Lanqin Ni, left, of China, and Joselito Rizaldo Babaran Iringan, of the Philippines, sang the National Anthem for the first time as United States citizens Friday, July 11, 2008, at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (KIT DOYLE)

Jose Daniel Ramos Rodriguez spoke about his journey toward citizenship from his native home of Venezuela Friday, July 11, 2008, during the Naturalization Ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. All 25 petitioners briefly spoke about their experiences. (KIT DOYLE)

Quitman McBride sang for the Naturalization Ceremony Friday, July 11, 2008, at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (KIT DOYLE)

Wai Yuen Chan, left, registered to vote with Nelda Steffen following the Naturalization Ceremony Friday, July 11, 2008, at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (KIT DOYLE)

Senior District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh presided over the Naturalization Ceremony Friday, July 11, 2008, at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (KIT DOYLE)

Adeeti Mishra sat with her mother Babita Patnaik Friday, July 11, 2008, during the Naturalization Ceremony, where Parnaik became a U.S. citizen. (KIT DOYLE)

Twenty-five peitioners took the Oath of Allegiance while becoming U.S. citizens Friday, July 11, 2008, in the Naturalization Ceremony at Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (KIT DOYLE)

Guilian Wei, left, posed for a photo with Senior District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh following the Naturalization Ceremony Friday, July 11, 2008, at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse in Cape Girardaeu. (KIT DOYLE)