BIDDEFORD — In 1988, Biddeford Middle School teacher Gert Webber of Sanford left her native Germany to follow her husband, a member of the U.S. military stationed in Germany, back to the United States.

Larry Boone of Casco, who is originally from England, moved to the U.S. for a temporary job opportunity 18 years ago. He never left.

Hassan Faraj of Portland was a judge in his home country of Iraq. But five years ago, after being tried by the Iraqi military, he and most of his family came to the country as refugees.

Webber, Boone and Faraj all entered the U.S. at different times and for different reasons, but the three have at least one thing in common.

On Friday, they were among 45 Maine residents, from 24 countries, who took an oath swearing allegiance to this country at a naturalization ceremony at the Biddeford Middle School.

After passing a civic and English language test and proving “good moral character,” it was their final step of the journey to becoming a U.S. citizen.

“This is a big deal,” said Principal Charles Lomonte about hosting the first-ever naturalization ceremony in Biddeford at the school’s Performing Arts Center.

It was an even bigger deal for the 45 people who now have nearly all the rights and responsibilities of the rest of the nation’s citizens.

Making the decision to renounce her German citizenship and become a U.S. citizen was “a gradual process,” said Webber.

“I think I have finally arrived at a state where I cannot imagine going back to Germany,” she said. “I realized that chapter of my life is closed.

“I love Maine. I have lots of friends and family here,” said the mother of two sons.

“This is home now,” said Webber. “I wanted to make it official.”

Boone said it also took him time to reach the decision to become a citizen.

Although he initially came to the country for a job that was only supposed to last two years, Boone said, he has made a life for himself in Maine.

He’s married to a U.S. citizen, he owns his own business and he has a home on Sebago Lake, something he said he couldn’t find let alone afford in his native England.

There are some things about his home country, Boone said he misses, like his grandchildren. But he says he can visit them.

“It got to the point where I could never image going back,” he said.

“I like my place. I like my life,” said Boone. “I’m here to stay.”

For Faraj, the decision to become a U.S. citizen was an easy one. He applied for citizenship as soon as possible. Having moved to the country in September 2007, he just made the five-year minimum residency requirement for becoming a naturalized citizen.

Faraj was joined at Friday’s ceremony by his wife, Suria, his son, Ali Jabbar, and daughter-in-law, Warqaa Mohamed, who also became citizens.

Another son, Ahmad Jabbar, was attending the ceremony in support of his family. He said he and another family member have started the process to become citizens as well.

Hassan Faraj said he and all his family, except one daughter, left Iraq because “My country is not safe.”

The family came here to have more freedoms.

“The justice (in the U.S.) is very, very good,” said Faraj.

“I found myself here,” said Faraj. “In my country, I don’t feel human.”

At the end of the ceremony, when he was officially a citizen, Faraj said rather than the day he entered the world 50 years ago, “This is my birthday.”

While the naturalization ceremony was thrilling and emotional for the new citizens and their loved ones, Biddeford Intermediate School teacher Elizabeth Long, who teaches English as a second language, was one of those most excited.

It was due to her initiative that the BMS ceremony took place.

Normally, said U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services Portland Field Office Director Sally Blauvelt, the twice-a-month naturalization ceremonies take place in a federal courthouse or at the USCIS office in South Portland.

However, she said, “We also like to hold the ceremonies in other public places,” especially schools.

“I always wanted to see a naturalization ceremony,” said Long.

But, said the teacher of 50 years, it never fit with her work schedule.

So she decided she would try to bring the ceremony to her.

In March, Long contacted U.S. Sen. Susan Collin’s office who in turn put her in touch with Blauvelt.

“It’s been a lot of work” leading up to the ceremony, said Long, but it was well worth it.

Working with Blauvelt, Long helped with ceremony preparations.

She organized speakers, including Principal Lomonte, BMS eighth-grade student Abigail Laverriere, and keynote speaker Linda Ward, a University of New England professor who teaches ESL.

She coordinated student performances: The BMS school band played “You’re a Grand Old Flag;” the Biddeford Intermediate School chorus sang “America the Beautiful; and three sixth-grade students, Annie Duong, Sitsanok Luanglath and Raymond Huoth, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Long involved some of her own students in the process. Trizzi Ha, Sodalath Luanglath, Katrina Reyes, Jennifer Lozano, Jimmy Lam, Alfred Romero, Tiffany Ha and Makylee Chan where ushers and pages for the ceremony, helping people find their seats.

In addition, Long used the ceremony as a teaching tool for her fourth- and fifth-grade ESL students, who come from countries like Haiti, Iraq, Oman, Laos and the Philippines.

While the children are too young to become naturalized citizens, individuals must be 18 or older, most of Long’s students said they hope to become citizens one day.

By becoming a U.S. citizen, individuals gain a number of rights and take on some responsibilities.

Some of the responsibilities include giving up allegiance to another country, supporting and defending the Constitution and U.S. laws, serving the country when required, serving on a jury if called upon and tolerating differences.

Some of the new benefits and/or rights include traveling with a U.S. passport, obtaining citizenship for children born abroad, bringing family members to the U.S., and being able to participate in the political process by having the right to vote and become an elected official.

The right to vote is an important one and a number of the new citizens said they plan to take advantage of that right at the upcoming general election on Nov. 6.

“I’ve always taken a keen interest in the political system,” said Boone, who said he will vote in his first U.S. presidential election next month.

Being able to vote was one of the driving factors in her decision to become a citizen, said Webber.

“I think it’s important for every citizen to participate in the political process,” she said.

After the ceremony, Webber said she planned to register that day.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.