Elgin honors new citizens
New U.S. citizens were honored by the Elgin City Council Wednesday during the city's 17th annual citizenship recognition ceremony.
Honorees are people that live, work or have taken citizenship classes in the Elgin area. People from 12 countries of origin - including the Czech Republic, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Laos, Mexico, Mongolia, the Philippines, Portugal and Serbia - were among those who became new citizens in the last year in the Elgin area, said Jerry Turnquist, a member of the Elgin New Citizenship Recognition Committee.
"In Elgin, we welcome and celebrate this diversity," he said.
Other committee members represent organizations such as Centro de Informacion, the Literacy Connection, Elgin Community College and the Gail Borden Public Library.
The Elgin Master Chorale performed during the ceremony. Refreshments were sponsored by the offices of state Sen. Michael Noland, state Rep. Anna Moeller, state Rep. Steven Andersson and state Rep. Karen McConnaughay.
The League of Women Voters of the Elgin Area was there to register voters, and the Kane County Clerk's office had a sample voting machine on display. Each honoree got a personalized certificate signed by the mayor with the city seal, along with a lapel flag and a U.S. flag.