ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (KMOX) - They came from places like Vietnam, Somalia, and China. Seventeen different countries were represented Friday in south St. Louis County, as 23 petitioners gave up their native citizenship to become naturalized Americans.

Local attorney and former president of the Missouri Bar Association W. Dudley McCarter spoke at the ceremony, “There’s no greater joy than to see these new citizens accept their certificate of citizenship, take the oath, and witness they’re so happy to become citizens of our country. It kind of renews your spirit and your patriotism.”

Among the new U.S. citizens is college professor Eduardo Sanchez Velasco, a naive of Spain, “One of the good things you have here is you can participate in the political system. This is really something you should not throw away.”

Speaking of the U.S. political system, the St. Louis area League of Women Voters had a booth to register the new American citizens to vote, following the ceremony.