On Sept. 25, I attended the naturalization ceremony at Windham High School, sponsored by the students and staff of the middle school.

As a teacher of English language learners, I was a guest of one of my students, Abdelhafiz Younis from Darfur. Abdelhafiz is here as a refugee, fleeing war and safety. However, in so doing, he finds himself alone-without his family and as the person who must work to help them get to safety as well. The consequence is that I was the only person there to witness this very important event in his life-the gift of freedom.

I have been to other ceremonies at Homeland Security. The Sept. 25 event was an amazing, thoughtful, emotional and breathtaking experience. To have an auditorium filled with students, staff, guests, family and officials gave the occasion the true recognition it deserves. Every detail-the printed program, the incredible performance of the student chorus, the formality of the ritual, the poise of the speakers, the honor bestowed upon the new citizens and the respectful behavior of the student body-left me speechless.

The gift was in two directions-both to the newly welcomed members of the country and to the students who had the chance to be witness those who accept the privilege of citizenship with honor and dignity.

I commend Hal Shortsleeve, principal of the middle school, and even more so the sixth-grade teacher (I wish her name had been in the program!) who took on the challenge of this event. She should be commended as one of our state’s finest educators to understand the value of such an occasion.

As the largest naturalization ceremony ever to be held in Maine, it was a huge undertaking. Ninety immigrants and refugees from 41 countries sat on that stage with bated breath, looking out to a crowd of more than 1,000 people giving multiple standing ovations in their honor.

In my opinion, schools across the state should take on this same task-an opportunity to give the gift of the ceremony to the participants the honor and dignity it deserves and the gift of witness to the students of Maine.

I will never forget this day and will encourage more like it. Abdelhafiz Younis will never forget it either. Homeland Security ceremonies cannot hold a candle to what happened on Sept. 25, 2008. All involved should be proud.

Rosemarie De Angelis

Lifelong educator/Lifelong Learner