by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
John Balaguer and Romeo Waldo don’t have much in common. Balaguer is 61 years old and works for Hardage Giddens Funeral Homes. Waldo is an 18-year-old senior at Sandalwood High trying to figure out where he’d like to go to college. Balaguer might be 5 feet 6 inches tall; Waldo is probably 6 feet 6 inches tall. Balaguer is from Cuba while Waldo is Russian.
However, as of about 11:15 Thursday morning, Balaguer and Waldo now share one thing: they are two of the 49 newest citizens of the United States.
Senior United States District Judge Harvey Schlesinger presided over the annual ceremony at the Federal Courthouse that’s part of the Law Week festivities. As always, Schlesinger was a mix of stern judge, welcoming American and proud surrogate parent as he reminded the 49 applicants (there were 50, but one didn’t show) of the responsibilities that come with United States citizenship.
In order to qualify for citizenship, each respective applicant must commit to three basis tenets (in addition to paying a $650 fee): they must renounce their present allegiance, agree to defend the Constitution and the laws of the U.S. and agree to bear arms in both times of peace and war, if called upon.
“First, I want to congratulate you on becoming a citizen,” said Schlesinger. “You enter here today a resident of a foreign country and you leave a U.S. citizen.”
Giselle Carson, president of the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association’s board of governors, is a naturalized citizen who was born in Cuba.
“I know the hard work and patience it takes to become a U.S. citizen,” said Carson, who introduced guest speaker Ed Gallegos, vice president of the Office of Cultural Competence and Diversity Systems at BlueCross BlueShield of Florida.
Gallegos, who is of Mexican descent, talked about the role immigrants have played in the history of the United States.
“Immigrants have played a critical role in establishing the United States as the land of opportunity,” he said. “Our country has prospered due to the vast number of immigrants.”
Balaguer fits that mold. He came to the U.S. in 1961 from Cuba and married an American in 1973. Although he eventually divorced, Balaguer enjoyed all the rights of being a citizen except he wasn’t a citizen by law and he couldn’t vote.
“All of these years I have thought the United States was the greatest country in the world,” said Balaguer, who, at 16 years old, sold shoes for Butler Shoe Company in Jacksonville and become vice president in 1989. “My family has always asked me to become a citizen. The process was fun and it was easy since I spoke English when I came here. I can understand where others could have lots of problems (becoming a citizen).
“I am very proud. This is a big day for me.”
356-2466