Hi, my name is Margarete Fragoso. I am originally from Brazil. I was born in Rio de Janeiro many years ago. I came to the United States on January 1, 2006, to visit my sisters, and during my stay, I was offered an H-1B visa. On October 22, 2015, I became an American citizen.

It was not an easy process, but I believe it was worth it. When I decided to immigrate, I was already considered an older adult, both in Brazil and in the United States. Through determination, resilience, and focus, I was able to prove that it is never too late to pursue your dreams and achieve success.

Why did I decide to stay in the United States? One reason goes back to my youth. After President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, I became interested in learning more about the United States. As soon as I earned my first income, I enrolled in English classes. Since then, living in the United States became one of my biggest dreams.

My youngest sisters moved to the United States and married American citizens. One of them filed a family-based petition for my Green Card. After a long wait that began on January 11, 2000, I finally received my Green Card on June 8, 2010.

The United States is a country where people can invest their time, education, and skills to build a better future for themselves and their families. It is a place where hard work can create opportunities for success. Citizens can also give back to their communities in many ways. One example is serving as an election judge, a role that allows people to contribute to the democratic process.

One of the things I value most about the United States is the protection of individual rights. Among these rights, freedom of speech is especially important to me. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to express their opinions openly. This freedom is something I deeply appreciate because I feel that freedom of expression has faced significant challenges in Brazil in recent years.

For this reason, the Statue of Liberty in New York is the landmark that means the most to me. It represents the ideals of freedom and opportunity that attracted generations of immigrants to America. I believe that liberty is one of the foundations of this country, and countless people have sacrificed their lives to defend it throughout American history.

I also have great respect for the American flag and the values it represents. Military funeral ceremonies are especially meaningful to me. My family has witnessed the flag folding ceremony thirteen times, and each occasion has left a deep emotional impact on us. The symbolism associated with each fold reminds me of important values such as life, faith, loyalty, sacrifice, service, family, and devotion to the nation.

Another phrase that has great significance for me is the opening of the United States Constitution: “We the People.” I believe these words reflect the principle that governmental power originates from the people and that individual rights must be protected for everyone. They remind us that democracy depends on the active participation and responsibility of citizens.

Like many people, I have concerns about certain political and social issues. I believe it is important for citizens to engage in respectful public discussions, participate in the democratic process, and work toward solutions that strengthen families, communities, and the nation. I also believe that preserving historical monuments is important because they help future generations learn about both the achievements and the challenges of the past.

As someone who immigrated to the United States, I deeply value both liberty and democracy. My sisters who live here are either American citizens or Green Card holders, and our decision to build our lives in this country reflects our appreciation for these principles. We are grateful for the opportunities that America has provided to us and our families.

Above all, I am thankful to be an American citizen. I particularly enjoy American traditions such as Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Independence Day. These holidays provide an opportunity to honor those who sacrificed for our freedom and to express gratitude for the many blessings in our lives, including our health, family, friends, careers, opportunities, and peace. I especially appreciate that these occasions bring families and communities together to celebrate, remember, and give thanks.

I am not running as a candidate. However, I believe it is important to discover what those candidates are willing to do to make our lives better, and to know how they are going to achieve their goals. Problems are part of life, but very few people have the good ideas and excellency required to solve them without creating another problem.

Margarete Fragoso is a member of Upper Montgomery Republican Women's Club