Welcome.

With that simple salutation, U.S. Attorney Kelly Rankin greeted the United States' newest citizens at their naturalization ceremony Monday in Casper.

"We welcome you," Rankin said in his remarks. "We know it's been a long journey."

Monday's ceremony at the Ewing T. Kerr Federal Courthouse was a special moment for the 25 people petitioning to become U.S. citizens.

For John Nganga Kambutu, his wife and his oldest son, the road to their ceremony lasted nearly two decades.

John moved to the United States in 1989. His wife, Lydiah Wangui Nganga, and son Evans Philip Kambutu Nganga followed in 1992. The lure of better education led the family here, Lydiah said.

Now, Lydiah and her husband are professors for the University of Wyoming/Casper College center.

The ceremony didn't mean much until it actually started, the older Kambutu said.

"There was a rush of positive emotions," John said. "To see that flag there, and know what it stands for … to realize I am protected by that flag, it's a transformative experience.

"I have waited for 19 years for this day."

The Nganga family has two younger children who were both born in the United States. Kathleen Nganga said watching her oldest brother and parents finally become citizens was worth the wait.

"We feel good," she said. "It's been a long time coming. We're really happy for them."

Lydiah said she's looking forward to being more active in her children's education - in some cases, she said, she needed to be a U.S. citizen to join parent boards.

Hearing "Proud to be an American" for the first time as a citizen brought tears to her eyes, she said.

"When I heard it, and to know now I can really say I'm proud to be an American, it's awesome," she said. "This is huge. This is a huge feeling of happiness."

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.