A brother and sister from Palmyra are two of the United States’ newest citizens.

Cole and Casey Clarke, Russian-born adoptees of Sam and Barbara Clarke of Palmyra, took the Oath of Allegiance—along with children and young adults from 16 other countries—to become certified citizens of our great United States at Smithfield Plantation in Blacksburg on June 23.

Twelve-year-old Cole, who has lived in the United States with his parents since age 2, says the experience enhanced his perspective of what it means to be an American.

“I have a lot of respect. I didn’t think [becoming American] was going to be that big of a deal, but now I do. I liked that they had a little ceremony that makes everyone recognize how important it is to be an American. I don’t want to be from any other country.”

Casey, who was 6 months old at the time of her adoption, is 11 years old today. She says the ceremony was quite moving.

“I think it was really fun just to be there. It was really cool getting to be there, saying the Oath.”

Both children agree that the right to vote, to travel, to own a home and to enjoy a broad range of freedoms in the United States is a special way of life that all should treasure.

“I read to them all their rights: the right to vote, the right to a fair trial, and so forth. Along with those rights you have responsibilities, like pay taxes,” their mother says. “They were beaming.”

For parents Sam and Barbara this naturalization represents closure for the adoption process that began with “mounds of paperwork” in 1998. Weren’t the kids already considered American at the time of adoption?

“Mine did not qualify for automatic citizenship,” says Barbara. “We adopted in 2000. They entered the country as IR-3 status, as immediate relatives, so they were not American citizens but they were capable of getting a state’s birth certificate.”

Barbara says she had various reasons for holding off in applying for citizenship—something she and Sam could have done for the kids without ceremony.
“I’m very, very happy we did hold off, because the kids understand what they did. They actually took that Oath of Allegiance. I wasn’t expecting to get emotional. I wasn’t sobbing, but my heart was in my throat, hearing them say the Oath and go up one by one to get their certificates. I got choked up because this was the final act of adoption,” she says.

“It just kind of brings it all together,” Sam says. “[Cole and Casey] seem like they’re more proud to be American, more aware of it. You see them walking around with a flag shirt on, the way they smile it seems like it means a little more to them. It’s real cute.”

Casey and Cole each received certificates of citizenship and a signed letter from President Obama stating: “Dear fellow American, I’m honored to congratulate you on becoming a citizen of the United States of America. You represent the promise of the American dream, and because of your determination this great nation is now your nation.”

Cole says his mom is going to put these precious items somewhere safe to keep.