DECATUR - On April 18, Decatur resident Felice D'Introno earned the right to do something he's never done: vote in a U.S. election.

D'Introno, who has been living in the United States since the 1980s and serving Italian cuisine to Decatur residents for 14 years at his restaurant, Felice's, can now proudly declare he is a U.S. citizen. His proudest moment will be when he'll make his voice heard by casting a ballot in the general election.

D'Introno, who was born in Italy, was among 97 Central Illinoisans who became naturalized citizens during an April ceremony in Springfield.

There, they swore the oath of allegiance as American citizens at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site.

"He said he feels more right with himself," said D'Introno's wife, Antonia, who will be taking the U.S. citizenship test this month. "He always had the idea to live in this country for the rest of his life.

"We always said in the beginning when we first came here" that they would become American citizens, she said. "We always meant to do it, but we just never found the right time."

The two of them applied for naturalization in June, but Felice D'Introno was the one to receive the call first. Felice D'Introno prepared for the test, which he took in December in Chicago, and after passing, attended the ceremony in April.

Joan Mirabai of Decatur also became a U.S. citizen that day and was in awe of the ceremony.

"It was such a moving experience," said Mirabai, who was born in Canada. "Seeing so many people from other countries pledging their allegiance to the flag, that really touched me."

She admitted to crying at the sight, as the same emotions began to come over her as she talked about it.

"I'm very proud to say I'm an American citizen now," she said.

More and more individuals are finding themselves proud to be Americans as the number of naturalized continues to climb, said Marylu Cabrera, spokeswoman of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

"We're now getting through a resurgence of applications," she said of Chicago's offices. "In August, we had 300 percent more applications than the year before."

Cabrera said she believes the increase is due to more organizations promoting U.S. citizenship.

To be eligible for naturalization, an individual must have lived in the United States for at least five years and three years in a particular Citizenship and Immigration Services district. They also must demonstrate good moral character and show favorable disposition to the United States, according to the Citizenship and Immigration Services Web site.

Cabrera said after filing their applications, candidates are then called in for a background check and to take fingerprints, and upon passing their background check, they are interviewed prior to taking the U.S. citizenship test.

"We test them of their knowledge of the English language and on how well they know their U.S. history," she said.

The Web site contains a study guide and flashcards, as well as sample questions from the test.

"The goal is that we want people to pass and become U.S. citizens," Cabrera said of providing studying sources.

Where a person files his application determines how long the full process takes, Cabrera said. It's taking six to eight months if done through Chicago's offices, she said.

Mirabai called becoming naturalized a process.

"It took a while just getting it all together," Mirabai said of documents that were required of her - birth, marriage and divorce certificates, etc. - and information asking for specific dates on the application.

"Filling out the forms was the most difficult. There's a lot of information on that form," she said of the 10-page application.

Despite that difficulty, the reward was worth it.

"You get so used to living here; you don't even think you're not a citizen," Mirabai said of marrying and raising four children during her time in America since 1953.

"After all these years, I feel like I was an American citizen," she said. "Only now I can I say I am."

Alicia Spates can be reached at aspates@herald-review.com or 421-6986.