Hetalben Patel’s family arrived early to Friday’s naturalization ceremony held outside the USS Cairo Museum at the Vicksburg National Military Park, grabbing a front row seat in anticipation of a life-altering event for them and more than three dozen others.

“This is going to change my life drastically,” said Patel, 21, of Lucedale, just before mother Jayaben, father Dashrathbhai and brother Ashishkumar — all previously citizens of India — took the oath to become U.S. citizens.

Living in Mississippi for the past 13 years has been a preparation in itself, Hetalben said.

“It means a lot to me because I can vote now and I can have a say-so in politics, be part of the community,” said Patel, a junior at the University of South Alabama who plans to be a pharmacist.

In all, 42 people from 23 nations recited the oath of allegiance and received certificates of their citizenship, signifying the end of a process that can take several years. Candidates for naturalization generally must be at least 18 years old and permanent residents — holders of “green cards” — for at least five years and pass a moral character test usually defined by a clean criminal record. Those who have lived in the United States three years may file as a spouse of a U.S. citizen. Proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English are tested by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, as is knowledge of U.S. history and government.

The special ceremony at the VNMP was one of 63 ceremonies held in recognition of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, observed together since 1952, and among 22 events held at national parks around the country under the theme “Embrace Citizenship — Experience America Through Your National Parks.”

VNMP superintendent Michael Madell urged the newly minted Americans to see national parks as places “for all people, to enjoy and to learn from, and to experience.” In all, 35 naturalization ceremonies were held nationwide Friday, including events at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis and the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Ark.

Nearly all the naturalization candidates sworn into citizenship in the shadow of the preserved Union gunboat at the VNMP have lived in and studied to be citizens in Mississippi or Louisiana, said Cindy Gomez, director of the USCIS New Orleans-based district. Candidates originated from Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Columbia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Republic of the Philippines, South Africa, Trinidad, Venezuela and Vietnam.

First recited at Valley Forge, during the Revolutionary War, the oath of allegiance asks soon-to-be citizens to swear off all prior loyalties and to bear arms and perform noncombatant service when required by law. Afterward, following a video message from President Barack Obama congratulating the new citizens, officials led the new citizens in a rendition of Lee Greenwood’s patriotic hit “God Bless the USA.” Certificates stating a person has become a citizen were given out by state Sen. W. Briggs Hopson III, R-Vicksburg.

“This is hallowed ground for this country, and I want to tell you today it’s hallowed ground again,” Hopson said. “You’re going to make a difference in where our country goes for many years to come.”

Stanley Crockett, supervisory immigration services officer with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said, “Today is the first day of the rest of your lives. What you do with it from this day forward is up to you.”

USCIS naturalized 743,715 people in 2009, down from an all-time high of more than 1 million in 2008 when fees on visas were raised.