Citizenship circus

Twenty-five children and young adults recently adopted from nine different countries received certificates of U.S. citizenship last night, before the start of the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus performance at the D.C. Armory.

The new young citizens — some bedecked in red, white and blue T-shirts and ribbons — sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” and recited the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pledge of Citizenship before Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson handed them the certificates.

“What a great way to start the circus,” Mr. Iverson told the parents and children who attended the 30-minute event.

Yesterday’s ceremony was about showing the children a good time, federal officials said.

“These children were citizens as soon as they enter the country,” said Norine Han, a spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). “But we want to give them a ceremony they will remember.”

Under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, adopted children now become citizens when they reach U.S. soil.

It is the eighth consecutive year the ceremony has been held at the Armory in Northeast.

Four-year-old Sophia Yaqin Nelson, of Culpeper, Va., played with the clowns and waved an American flag before the ceremony began. Sophia was adopted from China by Norma and Pete Nelson last winter.

“We hope she will remember this. We came through a lot to get to this point,” Mrs. Nelson said. “This is a Kodak moment.”

Mr. Nelson said the ceremony provides a sense of closure to what is often a difficult process of adopting a child.

The couple, who has two grown children, said Sophia is a “true blue American” who likes hot dogs and peanut butter sandwiches. “She won’t eat rice” Mr. Nelson said.

The children ranged in age from 10 months to 21 years old. They came from China, Colombia, Guatemala, India, Poland, Vietnam, Russia, South Africa and the Ukraine.

“I am a little more emotional than I thought I would be,” Mrs. Nelson said as she held Sophia’s certificate after the ceremony.

The parents agreed the ceremony was important to give the children — and themselves — an official dedication.

“We got the certificate in a conference room filled with people,” said Janet Schiavone, of Reston, as she held her 3-year-old daughter Peri who was adopted from China. “I think this ceremony is wonderful.”

Phyllis Howard, Washington District Office Director of CIS, agreed. “What better way to celebrate citizenship for children than at the circus,” she said.