In honor of Constitution Day, the Superior Court of New Jersey Vicinage XV had a naturalization ceremony Thursday morning.
BRIDGETON -- It wasn't the first time that they heard "America the Beautiful" but, for 21 people, it was their first time hearing it as citizens of the United States of America.
In honor of Constitution Day, the Superior Court of New Jersey Vicinage XV had a naturalization ceremony Thursday morning -- where certificates were presented to the men and women who passed through the citizenship process.
The vicinage covers Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.
"It was a long journey but the end is a really happy end," said Juary Hernandez Agueros, 35, of Vineland.
He emigrated from Mexico in 2000 for better opportunities and to help support his sister and brother.
Wearing a black suit and a black-and-blue striped tie, he couldn't help but smile when he collected his citizenship certificate from Judge Anne McDonnell and Trial Court Administrator Mark Sprock.
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Once the ceremony was completed, McDonnell spoke to the Bridgeton High School Choir, who sang patriotic songs at the ceremony, about the experience they witnessed.
"I hope you also appreciate the effort -- the long years of effort, concentration and focus -- that these people, these new citizens, have gone through for many, many years for the blessing and privilege to live in this country and be called a U.S. citizen," she said.
The citizenship candidates ranged between 23 years old and 69 years old. They came from 15 countries in North America, Asia, South America and Europe.
The process to become a citizen takes three-to-five years -- including an application, citizenship test and background check.
The final step in the process occurred Thursday at Cumberland County Courthouse, where the 21 new citizens swore allegiance to their new country.
Amanda Z. Ota, 42, of Vineland, went through the process herself in 2012 and was a speaker at this year's ceremony.
Originally from South Africa, she was in the United States in 1991 as a high school student and returned later on to attend Temple University. Ota got married, had children, earned a Master's Degree and became a naturalized citizen in 2012.
"This is the country that anything is possibly as long as you work hard," she told the 21 new citizens. "You can get educated, you can say that you are going to work very, very hard and you will be given the opportunity to achieve whatever you want to achieve."
Rocelle Anne Tenido, 27, of Pitman, came to the United States in 2004 from the Philippines with her family. She received her certificate Thursday.
"Everything is perfect," she said. "It's amazing because I've been waiting for this citizenship and now I finally got it. It's the best feeling."
Immediately after officially becoming a citizen, she was already registering to vote.
How different does she feel now that she has her official naturalization certificate?
"I feel at home," Tenido said.
Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.