My Dear Parishioners,

Yesupatham Duraikannu and Suchita Yesupatham was our name as called as we became an American citizen at 2:21 PM on June 22, 2010. The oath ceremony took place in a humble way in the Federal Building, East Weaver Place, Centennial, Colorado. There was a large screen at the front of the room on which were projected videos of Francis Scott Key’s National Anthem; a welcome from President Barack Obama; and the words of Lee Greenwood’s iconic song God bless the USA. There was an American Flag at the front and at the Naturalization Ceremony Room entrance.  Each of us pledging allegiance to the United States of America.

 Myself and my wife Sue were the other “Prominent Foreign-born Americans” in the room. We were two of the 45 candidates sworn in as citizens. It was a quite a joyful experience to hear the countries of origin called in  alphabetical order. I  heard many stories that people had waited 15 years long for this day! Indeed I my self had been living in the United States for more than fifteen years. God has been so gracious to my family and especially; St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Columbia in the Diocese of Tennessee; St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Walden, New York Diocese and the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Diocese of Colorado were so kind and helpful to me and family. We are very grateful for their accepting us to serve in the Church as well as in the local community. We have come a long way and through so many hurdles, and now we are proud to be Americans in this community of Salida.

We renounced all other allegiances-and pledged allegiance to the Flag of these United States. We received a certificate that confirmed our rights and privileges as a U.S. citizen. And now we could apply for a U.S Passport which would identify us as Americans. It was president Regan who said:”…you can to live in France, but you can’t become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Italy, but you can’t become a German, an Italian…but anyone, from any corner of the world, can come to live in the United States and become an American.” So along with us 45 very different members became Americans-and this makes us a better country according to  the administrator who provided the oath Ceremony”.

So, this is an important event in my life and we celebrate.  Out of many one! We are proud of our great country. In the words of the song by Lee Green- wood, we rejoice “From the Lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee, across the plains of Texas, from Detroit down to Houston, and new York to L.A.”-and all together we say “ God bless America and God bless us!”

Fr.Yesu