The Peru Gazette

Adele Douglas takes the Naturalization Oath

Alain Gilbert

By John T. Ryan

Oftentimes over 50% of native-born U.S. citizens do not exercise one of their most sacred rights – the right to vote. Yesterday, two Peru residents, both natives of Canada, became naturalized United States citizens in a ceremony conducted at Clinton Community College. When asked why they decided to become U. S. citizens Adele Douglas and Alain Gilbert answered with the words, “So I can vote!” Adele Douglas spent her early years in Mississauga, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec and moved to this country twelve years ago. She lives in Peru with her husband Garry and daughter Emily. Alain Gilbert grew up in the Quebec City area.  He took a job at Bombardier Transportation’s Barrie, Vermont plant eighteen years ago. He and his wife Patricia moved to Plattsburgh in 1998 and to Peru five years ago.

Both Adele and Alain were impressed by yesterday’s ceremony. Adele said, ‘”It was very well done. I enjoyed seeing the variety of countries where the other new citizens came from. Coming from Canada I feel I grew up with the same rights and freedoms that U.S. citizens have, so the change for me is minor.”  Alain Gilbert reflected on the setting of yesterday’s ceremony on a balcony overlooking historic Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains of Vermont. He said, “It was a beautiful ceremony. It was unique.”

Hon. John A. Lahtinen presided over the event and Clinton County Clerk John Zurlo administered the Naturalization Oath.  Seventeen men and women from fifteen countries became citizens. The countries included: Palestine, Peru, Kosovo, Ireland, Jordan, Canada, Pakistan, Romania, Poland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Jamaica, Russia, Venezuela and Turkey.

Naturalization Oath

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”