by Monique O. Madan

There was something special about witnessing an immigrant take an oath of allegiance to become a U.S. citizen. For former federal magistrate Peter Richard Palermo, the experience was personal: His father had immigrated to the United States from Paternopoli, Italy, in 1903.

Palermo, who died in Miami at age 97 on Nov. 13, presided over dozens of citizenship ceremonies, helping thousands who waited years to call the United States home. In 1986, he presided over the biggest swearing-in ceremony at the time:14,200 at the Orange Bowl.

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Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/