Yesterday was Citizenship Day for the people of the Commonwealth. However, no special ceremony was held to honor or observe its significance. Saipan Tribune asked people from various backgrounds what the day means to them. Here is what we\u2019ve gathered:<\/p>\n
\u201cCitizenship Day celebrates the day that American citizenship was conferred on the people of the Northern Marianas. That was in 1986, 10 years after we became a Commonwealth in political union with the United States. This day is a time to reflect on, and appreciate, the freedoms, rights, and privileges we enjoy as members of the American political family. It is also a time to remember and exercise the responsibilities of citizenship; to vote and participate in the affairs of our government, to be informed, to speak up for the most vulnerable among us, to serve our community and nation to the best of our abilities. As citizens of this great commonwealth and country, we are called to continually strive to create a more perfect union, and a more just and democratic society.\u201d
\n\u2014Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan<\/p>\n
\u201cCitizenship means community to me. It means being part of the whole country or even whether it\u2019s your village or town or city, you need to be an active member.\u201d
\n\u2014John Hirsch, American Red Cross-NMI Chapter executive director<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been a citizen since I was born but for many, it started in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan signed the declaration and provided all of the Trust Territory passport holders in the Commonwealth American citizenship or an American passport. I think that holds a great honor for the many individuals who received that and every year they recognize this day as a holiday and it\u2019s to recall and remember the day everyone became an American citizen.\u201d
\n\u2014Alex Sablan, Saipan Chamber of Commerce president<\/p>\n
\u201cCitizenship means believing and acting on the idea that it\u2019s my responsibility as much as anyone else\u2019s to create the kind of community that I want to live in.\u201d
\n\u2014Jenny Hegland, Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts director<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a citizen for me means being someone who is strong. Someone who is an advocate for [his or her] community and truly wants to make a positive difference for the island, family or even the place that you work for.\u201d
\n\u2014Mable Ayuyu, Saipan Young Professionals chair<\/p>\n
\u201cThey say the U.S. is a melting pot of the world. I\u2019m proud to be an American. This Citizenship Day is a way to celebrate and recognize that melting pot right here in our backyard. People strive for years to get the coveted symbol of joining a land of freedom and opportunity.\u201d
\n\u2014Jillian Angeline, KSPN2 news anchor<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is having the privilege of involving yourself in the community, by work, by family, in the islands here and to consider yourself part of that overall community and its government here in the CNMI.\u201d
\n\u2014Perry Inos Jr., Saipan Chamber of Commerce board director<\/p>\n
\u201cCitizenship Day is when you celebrate being an American citizen and the freedoms, especially since many people in different countries aren\u2019t able to do, like freedom of speech or the freedom to choose your own religion.\u201d
\n\u2014Del Mendiola, Rotaract Club of Saipan president<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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