By Lynn Bartels and Julia Sunny

In a ceremony marked by elation and emotion, 79 people from 33 countries lifted their right hands Wednesday and become citizens of the country they love.

“I am so grateful to be in the United States,” said Rachel Kalonda, 48, who is from the Congo. “I feel so great. I start a new experience today.”

Deputy Secretary of State Suzanne Staiert shared her own experience with the new Americans. Her father is Iranian and she briefly lived in Iran as a young child.

Staiert encouraged the immigrants to register to vote so they can participate.

“It may not be the election that you’ve dreamed of voting in in November,” she said to laughter, showing that the newest citizens are up on current events. “Congratulations to all you. You now are citizens of the greatest country that you could be citizens of.”

Sharon Long wept uncontrollably after her daughter-in-law, Nicole Long, became an American. Nicole, who is from Germany, lives in Fort Collins with her husband, James Long.

“It’s a big day,” Sharon Long said, wiping her eyes. “I’m so proud of her.”

In contrast, Thanh Nguyen smiled from ear to ear throughout the ceremony and waved his flag. After 22 years in the United States, he finally gets to call himself an American.

Nguyen served as a naval commander for the South Vietnamese during the Vietnam War and has wanted to move to the U.S. ever since.

“Very, very, very happy,” he said. “So happy to be American.”

Wednesday’s ceremony took place at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services center in Centennial.

Participants watched videos from President Obama and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who noted she was born in Czechoslovakia and immigrated to the United States at 11.

“Today marks a very special day in your life,” Obama said.

“You’ve traveled a long path to get here. You’ve sworn a solemn oath to this country and now you have all the rights of citizenship. With the privileges of citizenship, though, comes great responsibilities. So I asked that you use your freedoms and your talents to contribute to the good of our nation and the world.

“Also, remember in America no dream is impossible.”

Julia Sunny is a Colorado State University student interning with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.

To read more posts by Lynn Bartels, visit her official blog at the Colorado Secretary of State website.