For a couple of years now I have been participating in naturalization ceremonies as a representative of the bar association of the state where I work as a lawyer.  If you’re not familiar, naturalization ceremonies are where people become citizens.  It is a formal legal proceeding, presided over by a federal judge.

At each ceremony, a representative of both of our U.S. Senators and our Congressperson speaks.  In addition, a representative of the bar association speaks, and I have volunteered to perform that service several times, including the last two ceremonies which were held on the Fourth of July.

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This speech will be delivered at the naturalization ceremony in Hammond, Indiana on July 4, 2018.

Good afternoon.  My name is John Halstead.  I am here today on behalf of the lawyers of the state of Indiana and the Indiana Bar Association.  It is my privilege to congratulate you on becoming United States citizens.

Each of you has no doubt had an interesting journey to come to this point.  For some of you, that journey has been longer and more difficult than for others.

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