Richard Kajkowski, 66, of Toledo, right, recited the Pledge of Allegiance with a packed auditorium Tuesday morning during a naturalization ceremony at Whitmer High School in Toledo. Kajkowski, whose granddaughter Danielle Nolff, 17, spoke during the ceremony, emigrated to the United States as a child to escape Soviet controlled Poland.
THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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Monjuri Das, center left, stood with her daughter Progga Das, of Ada, for a photograph Tuesday morning after a naturalization ceremony at Whitmer High School in Toledo. Progga, originally from Bangladesh, joined 45 other people in becoming U.S. citizens.
THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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Judge Zack Zouhary, center, raises his hand as he presents the newest citizens of the United States Tuesday morning during a naturalization ceremony at Whitmer High School in Toledo. The hour-long ceremony resulted in 46 new Americans from more than 30 countries of origin.
THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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Fardus Ali Ubahle, of Oregon, right, smiled at her certificate of citizenship Tuesday morning at the end of a naturalization ceremony at Whitmer High School in Toledo. Ubahle, originally from Somalia, joined 45 other people in becoming U.S. citizens.
THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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Deisy Alberto, center, clapped alongside her fellow immigrants Tuesday morning during a naturalization ceremony at Whitmer High School in Toledo. Alberto, who is from El Salvador originally, joined 45 other people in taking the oath of citizenship.
THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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Reyna Aranda, center, brought her 15-month-old son Cristobal Armondo and three-year-old son Aquiles out to see their father, Cristobal, swear the oath of citizenship Tuesday morning during a naturalization ceremony at Whitmer High School in Toledo. Cristobal Aranda, originally from Mexico, joined 45 other people in becoming U.S. citizens.
THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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Whitmer student Danielle Nolff, 17, center, spoke with another student Tuesday morning during a naturalization ceremony at Whitmer High School in Toledo. Nolff gave a short speech on the experience her grandfather had when he emigrated to the United States from Poland after WWII.
THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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Alice Garglahn, of Kettering, laughed as she received her certificate of citizenship Tuesday morning during a naturalization ceremony at Whitmer High School in Toledo. Garglahn, who is originally from Liberia, joined 45 other immigrants in swearing the oath of citizenship and becoming Americans.
THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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The Whitmer Chorale and Orchestra played the Star Spangled Banner to a packed auditorium Tuesday morning during a naturalization ceremony at Whitmer High School in Toledo. Hundreds of students, local residents and family members turned out to see 46 people swear the oath of citizenship.
THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
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