Abdelhafiz Younis fled his African home alone, enduring a perilous journey from the war-torn region of Darfur to a United Nations office in Egypt before landing in Portland.

Ralph and Sonia Lofgren left their native Sweden in 1957 aboard a Pan American flight, carrying two suitcases apiece as they looked forward to their new life across the Atlantic.

Last week, in a moment signifying the end of odysseys large and small, they were made U.S. citizens during a ceremony at the Windham High School Performing Arts Center.

In the largest naturalization event ever held in Maine, 90 people representing 41 countries took the oath of citizenship, promising to defend the Constitution and the United States, while receiving in return all her protections and inalienable rights.

“I am really tired but at the same time I am so happy,” said Younis, who was fasting in observance of the Muslim month of Ramadan. Still, a wide smile, bright and easy, overtook his face as he held the certificate proclaiming him a citizen.

Younis, 25, left Darfur to escape the violence and destruction of that region’s civil war. If he had stayed he likely would have ended up either a soldier in the conflict, forced to take the government’s side and fire on his own people, or another casualty among hundreds of thousands.

Instead, he had to leave behind his parents, three brothers and two sisters, who he can now reach by phone only on occasion and through much effort, and who live a life that is far from secure.

Refugees differ from immigrants in that they have been forced from their native countries, said Rosemarie DeAngelis, one of Younis’ teachers at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland. While refugees like Younis are excited and thankful to be in the United States, they also live every day knowing their families are suffering in a place the refugees were fortunate enough to have left behind.

“The rest of his family is in constant peril,” said DeAngelis. “They are in danger.”

Younis is enrolled in the communications technology program at SMCC, though a degree to him is more of a license for future success than an indication of any particular interest. Unlike his homeland, there are opportunities here, Younis said. He wants to take advantage of those while doing his part for his adopted country.

“I just want to take my certificate and participate and do what I can,” he said.

He also wants to raise the money to free the rest of his family from their broken land.

“I have to get enough, so that means I have to work hard,” said Younis.

The Lofgrens, who now live in Brunswick, were lucky to have three generations of their family at the ceremony. As they gathered around an American flag posted near the stage, the Lofgrens cheerily posed for photos and celebrated becoming citizens more than 50 years after they first arrived in the United States.

“My whole family is here,” said Ralph Lofgren, waving his arms and pointing proudly. “My sons, my daughters, my grandson, the rest of my family.”

As a young couple in Stockholm in the 1950s, the Lofgrens faced a months-long waiting list for government-controlled apartments. “That’s what is called socialism,” said Ralph Lofgren. They decided instead to head to San Francisco, where Ralph had landed a job.

Opportunities over the years allowed the Lofgrens to live around the world, including Holland and Switzerland. But they eventually returned full time to the United States.

Some of their kids were born here, they said, and the ones that were not have become citizens. The Lofgrens themselves always wanted to be naturalized, but did not want to give up their Swedish citizenship.

“Sweden never allowed dual citizenship until now,” he said.

Most naturalization ceremonies are held in the South Portland offices of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. But an employee there, Windham resident Kurt Pelletier worked to have the middle school host the ceremony, which was held in front of the entire middle school student body and featured performances by the Windham Chamber Singers.

The Chamber Singers sang both “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.” After completing the third verse of “America the Beautiful,” the singers were spurred on by former Gov. Angus King, a guest speaker, to start again. The new citizens, and then the entire crowd, lent their voices, filling the entire auditorium with song.

“I thought it was just beautiful, much more important than I thought it was going to be,” said Sonia Lofgren. “I didn’t cry altogether, but it was very touching, especially when everyone sang.”

The ceremony was especially moving for Deqa Ahmed, who watched her cousin take the oath of citizenship. Next year, Ahmed, 20, will herself become a citizen.

“I can’t wait,” said Ahmed, who lives in Poland. “It was beautiful. Oh my God, so beautiful.”

Ahmed came to Maine from Somalia four years ago and is now a student in the Windham Adult Education department. She now sees for the first time a future full of hope.

“For at least 16, 17 years my country has had war,” Ahmed said. “So people do not have a lot of opportunity to go to work or to school.

“I want to be a part of the United States.”

During a ceremony held last week at the Windham High School Performing Arts Center, 90 people representing 41 countries were naturalized as citizens of the United States. After the new citizens took the oath of allegiance they were treated to a taped presentation from President George W. Bush followed by a stirring series of images showing the country’s landscape from coast to coast. Sonia and Ralph Lofgren, of Brunswick, last week became United States citizens over 50 years after they first left their native Sweden to start a new life in America. Three generations of the Lofgren’s family were at the naturalization ceremony at Windham High School to cheer on the couple. “My whole family is here,” Ralph Lofgren said after the ceremony, waving his arms and pointing proudly.

Copy the Story Link