On board the Battleship New Jersey, Camden, NJ- Under gray skies, spirits were bright this Independence Day as 45 new Americans took the Oath of Allegiance, officially becoming U.S. Citizens.

Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) delivered the keynote address for the July 4th ceremonies with the U.S. Navy’s most decorated battleship in history, the Battleship New Jersey as the backdrop.

Among those taking the Oath of Allegiance were individuals from 27 different countries, including five enlisted service members representing the United States Army, United States Navy, and the United States Marine Corps.

“It means new beginnings. It means new hope. It means I can achieve what I hope to achieve,” said new U.S. Citizen Samuel Kofi Asare who serves our nation in the U.S. Navy.

The journey to citizenship took longer for some than others, as they explained to Congressman Norcross after the ceremony.

New citizen Liliya Gorban, who’s lived in the United States for 23 years after leaving Moldova, then part of the Soviet Union said: “I now feel like all Americans. I’m free. My heart is shaking I’m so excited."

In Rep. Norcross’s keynote address, the Congressman recounted his own daughter-in-law’s path to citizenship saying, "...she raised her right hand like you did and became an American citizen… one of the proudest days of my life."

Congressman Norcross congratulates these new citizens on their achievement and thanks U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for inviting him to celebrate in today’s ceremonies and encourages all to share their photos and videos of the event on social media using the hashtag #newUScitizen.