'AROUND TOWN

A thankful three

hundred joined
to celebrate U.S.
citizenship on
Naturalization
Day

Esther Crane, and Emily Freeberg share a hug.

New Patriots

JENNIFER TAUB

11

11 hree hundred guests and
participants gathered on
July 7 at the Jewish Com-
munity Center's Jimmy
Prentis Morris Branch to
honor 200 individuals who gained
naturalized citizenship between six
and 60 years ago. According to Judy
Blustein, the senior adult program
director at the JPM, the event was
part of a larger annual program in Ju-
ly which included patriotic films,
book reviews and lectures. The com-
memoration of Naturalization Day
provided a chance to show pride in be-
ing American, she explained. "It is
important for any group to take time
out to think about the great country
that we live in."
A mixture of traditionally Amer-
ican activities gave the event an even
balance of ceremony and celebration.
Four hundred hot dogs and in-
numerable watermelon wedges pro-
vided by the Oakland Livingston
Human Service Agency were served
at tables decorated with red, white
and blue centerpieces of American
and Israeli flags. The Jewish War
Veterans Bloch-Rose Post donated
copies of the Bill of Rights and lapel
flags for the honored. Detroit Tiger

baseball caps were gifts from the Or-
chard Lake Ground Round.
The festivities also joined
together youth and age as the
children from the JPM nursery school
day camp and the honored seniors
shared in the picnic and sing-along.
Seniors "dancing the Virginia Reel
were truly impressive," Blustein
reflected.
Judge _Benjamin Friedman
presented the Bill of Rights as the
keynote speaker and Oak Park Mayor
Charlotte Rothstein read a proclama-
tion honoring the naturalized
citizens. Fanny Sheinker, once a Rus-
sian journalist, held her audience's at-
- tention with a comparison of her ex-
periences in Russia to those in
America.
"It was a major success;' com-
mented Blustein. "Everyone came
away with a very positive feeling."
The single drawback was the com-
bination of the hot sun and humidity
which forced the event inside. "The
actual raising of the flag (donated by
the JWV) had to be eliminated." Yet
the picnic, planned to take place in-
doors, was not affected, she ex-
plained. ❑

Kayla Jacobson contemplates her hot dog.

Veteran William Greenberg

G le nn Triest

Jewish News Intern

Nursery school day campers wave the flag.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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