PORTSMOUTH — In 1987, Raymond Vaitkevichivs was jailed in the former Soviet Union after he and a friend tried to escape from Siberia.

On Tuesday, Vaitkevichivs was one of 101 immigrants who took the oath of United States citizenship on the grounds of Strawbery Banke Museum, a Fourth of July tradition on the Seacoast. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services welcomed nearly 15,000 new citizens during more than 65 Independence Day-themed naturalization ceremonies across the country Tuesday.

Vaitkevichivs said he was kept for a year-and-a-half in a single cell in Lithuania. He later came to the United States in 1991 and met his wife. They now live in Amherst, where Vaitkevichivs said he farms and makes bread.

Vaitkevichivs' wife said her husband burst into tears when he received word he had passed his citizenship test.

"It's enormous, it means everything," Vaitkevichivs said. "To live with good people, that's what's important."

More than 40 countries were represented at the naturalization ceremony, where United States Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and state Sen. Martha Fuller Clark commended the country's newest citizens while encouraging them to be engaged and active within their communities.

Shaheen recognized the "energy, talents and passion" of each new citizen continuing to look for opportunity. She reminded attendees the United States is a nation of immigrants, regardless of ethnicity, color, faith or accent.

"I want to challenge each of you today to become active citizens because democracy is not a spectator sport," Shaheen said. "Register and vote, whether you vote for Democrats, Republicans, Independents, or some other party."

Shaheen said while many have already been members of the American family for a long time, "Isn't it nice to make it official?"

"(Most wait for) the fireworks and patriotic spectacles that will take place tonight but nothing can beat the patriotic spectacle that is taking place right here this morning under this tent," Shaheen said. "This is what America is all about. We welcome you to this country and to New Hampshire."

Asli Mohamed's father became a citizen Tuesday after many years in the United States. Though she was born in Kenya, her family immigrated from Somalia.

"He has more opportunities now," Mohamed, of Manchester, said. "He's so excited. He's been waiting for years to get this. In case we ever (leave) the country for some reason, he can come back in."

Mohamed said her father spent nearly three years going through the process to become a citizen. Because of her father's new status, the children in the family under 18 now also become citizens.

Rosane Olinger, originally of Brazil and now of Nashua, called the occasion "so much excitement."

"It's a beautiful day, and to become a citizen on the Fourth of July," she said. Olinger said she's had her green card for several years but only recently made the decision to make the U.S. her permanent home.

"I'd never decided before but now it's time," she said.

Sen. Fuller Clark spoke of difficult, troubled times in both the United States and around the world, and said it's easy to lose touch with how fortunate Americans are to reside in a country like the United States. She offered a piece of advice to the country's newest citizens.

"Work hard, talk less, do what you believe is right, learn from your mistakes, build people up, laugh often, stop complaining, invest in yourself, remember to vote, dream big, plan ahead and most importantly, love unconditionally."

The 101 citizenship candidates originated from the following 40 countries: Argentina, Austria, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, People’s Republic of China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Somalia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

The new citizens currently reside in Amherst, Bedford, Chichester, Concord, Contoocook, Derry, Dover, Durham, Epping, Exeter, Goffstown, Hampton, Hanover, Hooksett, Hudson, Keene, Laconia, Lebanon, Londonderry, Manchester, Merrimack, Milton, Mont Vernon, Nashua, New Boston, Newfields, New Ipswich, Newmarket, Northfield, Penacook, Portsmouth, Rochester, Salem, Somersworth, Stratham, Temple, Waterville Valley and Wilton.