The annual One World Day celebration was held in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens on Sunday September 20, 2009. The host Garden for the 2009 event was the Polish Garden.

Ben Stefanski of the Polish Gardens served as Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Ben Stefanski

He welcomed the crowd and the Czech Hronek Brass Band played the US National Anthem.

The Polish National Anthem was then sung by young Barbara Sikla.

After an invocation, the annual naturalization ceremony began with Honorable Judge David S. Perelman presiding. 20 people from all over the world took their oath of citizenship at the ceremony.

Oath of Citizenship

Judge Perelman then invited two of the new citizens to make a brief comment about their new citizenship.

Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation President Paul Burik spoke as did other dignitaries such as Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Councilwoman Shari Cloud and George Brown from Senator George Voinovich's office.

The keynote address was given by noted immigration attorney Margaret W. Wong.

Margaret Wong delivers the keynote address

She encouraged the attendees to do 3 good deeds each day - especially to people who look different from you.

Musical performances rounded out One World Day 2009.

Paul Burik, Councilwoman Shari Cloud and Ben Stefanski

One World Day crowd in front of Madame Curie bust

George Brown from Senator George Voinovich's office

Judge David Perelman

Judge Diane Karpinski

Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Margaret Wong

Taking the Oath of citizenship

New US citizen

The Polish Garden was full of people

The opening Invocation

Margaret Wong and Congressman Dennis Kucinich

Flags of the Nations

Ron Lawton, Irene Morrow and Vlad Rus

Polish PIAST Dancers

Jim Quisenberry

Margaret Wong, Dennis Kucinich and Ray Saikus

One World Day 2009 Musical Performances

One World Day 2009 Parade of Nations

Back to One World Day 2009 (and other important links)

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One World Day 2009 in Cleveland Cultural GardensSeptember 20, 2009

One World Day 2009 in Cleveland Cultural Gardens
September 20, 2009