ABERDEEN – Thirty-nine north Mississippi residents became official U.S. citizens during a ceremony Friday at the Thomas G. Abernathy Federal Building and Courthouse in Aberdeen.

The new citizens are natives of 23 different countries.

Northern District Judge Sharion Aycock presided over the ceremony and administered the oath to the new citizens.

“You have a duty and a responsibility as an American citizen and we welcome you to this country,” Aycock said.

Tupelo businessman Jack Reed Sr. addressed the candidates before they took the oath of citizenship, encouraging them to take their newfound citizenship seriously.

“I have looked forward to this day – it is an honor and a privilege to be here,” Reed said. “All of us that are here today are immigrants or children of immigrants. My family came here in 1830. Even though America is a young nation, I’m proud of our country’s history. America is not always right, but the heart of America is in the right place. You have many responsibilities as American citizens and today is the beginning of a new life for you.”

Also in attendance was New York filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Alexandra Pelosi’s husband is a Dutch-naturalized citizen and his experience inspired her to travel to all 50 states to meet new American citizens for a program which will air on HBO on July 4, 2011.

“Mississippi has been very welcoming,” Pelosi said. “I’m just here to let (new citizens) tell their stories.”

The event was special for Adriana Sanchez, 23, who watched her sister, Celia, become a citizen.

“I am very proud of her,” she said. “I became a citizen in Memphis last year and it is so exciting to see my sister receive her citizenship.”

Celia Sanchez, 25, who resides in Horn Lake, said she had waited a long time for this day.

“As of today, everyone in my family is a citizen of the United States,” Celia said. “I waited a long time to take this step but I am very glad that I did.”