2017 Naturalization Ceremony

Petitioners for U.S. citizenship recite Monday, May 1, 2017, the Oath of Allegiance, from left, Wayne Brett Armstrong of Zimbabwe, Erika Scheibe of Germany, Brenda Lilliana Mattingly of Mexico, Jessey Silvanus Vemula of India, Sheryl Ann Marie Wilson of the Philippines, and Irene Lim Lo Suy Comstock of the Philippines, during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Members of Louis K. Juden American Legion Post 63 post the colors Monday, May 1, 2017 during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Trudy Lee sings "America the Beautiful" on Monday, May 1, 2017 during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. speaks Monday, May 1, 2017 during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. speaks Monday, May 1, 2017 during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Rodney W. Sippel, chief judge of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District, speaks Monday, May 1, 2017 during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. Cupcakes resembling the American flag are served Monday, May 1, 2017 following the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Carlos Vargas-Aburto, president of Southeast Missouri State University, speaks Monday, May 1, 2017 to petitioners for U.S. citizenship during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Carlos Vargas-Aburto, president of Southeast Missouri State University, speaks Monday, May 1, 2017 to petitioners for U.S. citizenship during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Petitioners for U.S. citizenship, from left, Erika Scheibe of Germany, Brenda Lilliana Mattingly of Mexico, Jessey Silvanus Vemula of India, Sheryl Ann Marie Wilson of the Philippines, and Irene Lim Lo Suy Comstock of the Philippines, listen Monday, May 1, 2017 to guest speaker Carlos Vargas-Aburto during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Larry H. Ferrell, Assistant U.S. Attorney and naturalization examiner, presents the motion for citizenship to petitioners Monday, May 1, 2017 during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Jessey Silvanus Vemula, a petitioner for U.S. citizenship, speaks Monday, May 1, 2017 before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Ghulam Dastagir Hussain of Pakistan, a petitioner for U.S. citizenship, speaks Monday, May 1, 2017 before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Anna Volodymyrivna Lipska of Ukraine, a petitioner for U.S. citizenship, speaks Monday, May 1, 2017 before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Gary Allen Rusher of United Kingdom, a petitioner for U.S. citizenship, speaks Monday, May 1, 2017 before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Wei Nmn Han of China, a petitioner for U.S. citizenship, speaks Monday, May 1, 2017 before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Petitioners for U.S. citizenship recite Monday, May 1, 2017, the Oath of Allegiance during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

The Pledge of Allegiance is recited Monday, May 1, 2017 during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Adelina Baguio Prewett of the Philippines, center, recites Monday, May 1, 2017, the Pledge of Allegiance with other petitioners during during the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr., left, Jason Comstock, Athena Comstock and Irene Comstock pose for a photo Monday, May 1, 2017 after the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Adekunle Oluwatosin Obisesan, right, of Nigeria registers to vote, with assistance from Jill Rickard of the League of Women Voters, on Monday, May 1, 2017 following the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Nadir Hussain, left, and Gabi Schmidt pose for a photo Monday, May 1, 2017 after the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

Cupcakes resembling the American flag are served Monday, May 1, 2017 following the naturalization ceremony at the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)