18 | January/February 2023 | BAEC Bulletin Jill K. Bond 's Remarks from the October 27, 2022 Naturalization Ceremony for New Americans It is an honor and the privilege of my lifetime to be here today to welcome you as fellow citizens of the United States of America. The 35 of you come to us from 25 different countries, you practice different faiths, you have different education levels. Some came here alone, others with your family. You each have your own stories and reasons for immigrating to the United States. Some of you have witnessed and endured terrible things in your home country and you have found refuge here. Some have risked your lives in the process of leaving your countries and travelling here. All of you now have the opportunity to pursue what we call the American Dream. It means different things to different people. To me, it is the chance to own your own home and to have enough to keep your family safe, well cared for, and educated to pursue their own aspirations. While most countries admit immigrants, the United States is different. With the exception of our native Americans, we are a country of all immigrants and descendants of immigrants. Our nation was founded by immigrants who carefully created the government that reflected their ideals, better than what they came from. Not perfect, but striving to be a more perfect union. My father’s parents came to this country from Poland. My Mother’s grandparents from Germany and Ireland. They all came to this country and started lives here in Buffalo, NY with little more than the clothes on their backs. A few years back, I had the opportunity to take my family to Ellis Island. This was the main place of entry to the United States for immigrants in the first half of the 20th Century, when my ancestors arrived. You can not only tour the vast building, you can see videos and get a sense for the process that your loved ones went through when they got here. You can look up their names and dates of arrival in the records there. Being there made me feel such empathy for how frightening it would be to leave the life they knew and come here with little money to start anew in this country without even the ability to speak our language. I think you probably can relate to that. At the same time, I felt such pride in them for doing that not just for themselves, but also their yet to be born children and grandchildren. Mostly, I felt gratitude. Because of their bravery, I was born a citizen of this great country with all the opportunities this country affords to those who work hard and engage in their communities. As I look at you, I see the pride you have today. But I also see the same type of pride and gratitude I felt at Ellis Island—being experienced by your descendants generations from now. I have had the opportunity to work with immigrants as part of my job and part of living in Western New York which has a large immigrant population. I am moved and amazed by the texture and richness that
immigrants bring to this country. Like a beautiful quilt that gets stronger and more beautiful with addition of each patch, each of you brings your unique history, experience, personality, talent, wisdom, work, and dreams and make us collectively better. Not immigrants choose to become citizens. You took the extra step and did the hard work that you brings you here today. You chose to cut your ties with you home country and pledge your allegiance to your new home country. This country is stronger, better and more beautiful today because you are now our fellow Americans. I ask you to fully engage here. With citizenship comes rights and responsibilities. In a democracy, we have a say in shaping this country’s future. We are far from perfect, but it is you that get to decide who will lead us and represent our perspectives and values in governing this nation. I welcome you today and I thank you for choosing this country and the commitment you make today. I wish that you will experience all of the blessings this country has to offer. •
ARBITRATE OR MEDIATE YOUR CASE all
Since 2001, I have been honored to have been chosen to serve as a mediator or neutral arbitrator in over 3,000 claims which were pending in our court system. The vast majority of the non-binding mediations were successfully resolved. In addition to having over 30 years of experience in the litigation and trial of personal injury claims, I have lectured on behalf of the Bar Association of Erie County’s Erie Institute of Law and have given in-house presentations on
the topic of ADR. I am a past President of the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association, and a charter member of the NYSBA’s Dispute Resolution Section. I am also a Certified Federal Court Mediator. My fees are extremely reasonable, certainly a more cost effective alternative than a trial. I will be as flexible as possible in terms of scheduling and location, resulting in a quicker and more convenient resolution of your claim. MICHAEL MENARD 69 Delaware Ave., Suite 705, Buffalo, NY 14202 (716)842-6700 | FAX: (716) 842-6707
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