Citizenship Project
Members of the Citizenship Project class gathered for a group photo. From left, Gloria Lemus, Brim Shrestha, Criselda Shrestha, Wendy Bruchwalski, Susan Castillo, Natasha Pleshkova, Myriam Leaming, and Tam Tran. Also in the photo are Sue Yowell and Gary Hall. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice

The Estes Park Citizenship Project celebrated nine new or soon to be new United States citizens Tuesday at a dinner held at the American Legion Post 119 on what is both Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

The celebration brought together many organizations and individuals to mark what is a long and challenging journey to citizenship.

Applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements, be fingerprinted and photographed, submit a copy of their signature, complete an interview, pass an English and civics exam, and then take an oath of allegiance to the United States.

The Citizenship Project was the initiative of Autumn Nelson and Melissa Wood to support immigrants who are interested in applying to become citizens.

Melissa Wood and Autumn Nelson celebrate at the Citizen Project dinner. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice
Tram Tran carried a red, white, and blue gift back wit patriotic pinwheels home after the celebration Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice
Autumn and John Nelson
Autumn Nelson and her husband John celebrated at the Citizenship Project dinner Tuesday night. Autumn, an attorney, was born in Vietnam and came the the U.S. as a refugee in the late 1970s. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice
Rut Miller
Rut Miller, executive director of the Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success Family Resource Center, immigrated to the U.S. from Paraguay. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice
Terry Rizzuti
Terry Rizzuti, who has served as the post commander of the Legion and as its service officer welcomed everyone to the Legion for the dinner and spoke about his four grandparents who all immigrated to the U.S. from Italy. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice
The Estes Park Citizenship Project was celebrated at the American Legion Post 119 Tuesday evening. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice

Seven community non-profits participated in the initiative including the Estes Valley Library, EVICS Family Resource Center, the Estes Park Learning Place, the League of Women Voters, the Estes Nonprofit Network, the American Legion Post 119, and the Estes Park Patriots for Peace.

Recognized at the inaugural dinner celebration were Myriam Leaming, Tram Tran, Natasha Pleshkova, Susan Castillo, Wendy Bruchwalski, and Criselda Shrestha who have taken the citizenship oath; Bhim Shrestha and Gloria Lemus who have passed the citizenship interview and are awaiting the oath ceremony; and Javier Martinez whose interview is scheduled for Sept. 23.

Terry Rizzuti, who has served as the Post Commander of the Legion and as its Service Officer welcomed everyone to the Legion for the dinner and spoke about his four grandparents who all immigrated to the U.S. from Italy. Rizzuti, an accomplished writer who has published several memoirs and novels and coauthored a cookbook, a book about veteran’s benefits, and written the introduction to a book of poetry that deals with a veteran’s struggles with PTSD, said he felt connection to his grandparents in celebrating with the new citizens.

Estes Park Mayor Gary Hall spoke at the ceremony about how the evening’s gathering at the Legion was a model for what the whole world should be. “To me, this is all about humanity and peace,” said Hall. “When we welcome new citizens, well they were human beings before they became citizens with us, and part of that fabric of humanity working toward a peaceful world. And if we can create humanity and peace in this room, let’s do it in the whole world. So welcome to Estes. Welcome to the USA. We’re so glad to have you as a part of our humanity.”

Sue Yowell, executive director of the Estes Park Learning Place, served as the evening’s emcee. Simpatico, a vocal quartet that performs classical and jazz music, led the National Anthem. Member of the quartet include Miranda Dillard, Denise Stookesberry, Nelson Burke, and Steve Tice.

Two of the new citizens spoke about their experiences. Leaming told the audience that she was nervous when she arrived for her citizenship interview. “You don’t know what they will ask, which questions you will have and how you will answer or what to say,” said Leaming. “We passed, all of these, and today I can say ‘successful.’  We did it.”

Natasha Pleshkova, who has been in the U.S. for more than a decade, said, “I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for giving me a second home. I proudly wear two flags close to my heart because when the war started in my country (Ukraine) almost three years ago, I realized that thanks to this community and thanks to this country, I can save lives.” Pleshkova thanked Patriots for Peace and Crossroads Ministries for helping her bring 12 people out of the war zone.

“Thank you for having the passion and love and kindness in your hearts to still welcome immigrants. We still come to this country for similar reasons that people came 100 years ago – fleeing communism or Jews being persecuted by Nazis. A lot of us came here for economic reasons or to join families, and we appreciate the opportunity where with hard work and perseverance we can achieve better lives. Thank you for giving us a chance,” said Pleshkova.

The dinner was sponsored by the American Legion, the Estes Park Newcomers Club, Kate and Dave Arterburn, Melissa and Wally Wood, John and Autumn Nelson, Joy Bryant, Chris and Jim Fisherkeller, Cheryl Johnson, and Nancy Kinney and Robert Franken. The Quaker Unitarian Universalists and others provided the citizenship filing fee scholarships.