CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) — As the nation celebrates its 248th birthday, dozens of new U.S. citizens celebrated their own milestone Thursday. 

“I see freedom,” said Jonathan A. Monger as he looked up at the American flag waving on the pier near the USS Battleship New Jersey. “I see this nation being a great nation and the land of opportunities.”

Monger is one of 42 men and women who took their oath of American citizenship in a special ceremony aboard the Battleship New Jersey, including nine U.S. military service members. 

“It’s a journey that I’ve come through and I anticipate to go further and I appreciate this because it falls on Independence Day,” Monger said. “That makes it historic and it’s a great day in my life.”

The citizenship candidates were all lawful permanent residents and have met the requirements to naturalize, including passing a history and civics exam unless exempt. 

More than 878,500 new citizens were naturalized in fiscal year 2023 during ceremonies nationwide.

“All of us know every immigrant has a special story or incredible story to tell how our journey started and we believe in the process of this immigration and it’s a dream come true for us,” said Armand Arana, who immigrated to the northeast in 2006. “It’s freedom, opportunity and greatness.”

The citizenship candidates originate 21 countries: Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia, Mexico, Montenegro, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Venezuela.

John Marino expects hockey fans to have a lot of questions about Utah’s new NHL team.

“You don’t really know what to expect. Location wise,” the Massachusetts-born defenseman said, “I’m sure some people don’t know where it is.”

But the five-year veteran looks forward to putting Utah Hockey Club on the NHL map.

Marino, who has made the playoffs in four of his five seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils, will be tasked with bringing experience and establishing a winning culture in Salt Lake City after being traded to Utah late last month.

“I think it starts with the older guys instilling that in the younger guys and teaching them the ropes,” Marino said this week.

The 27-year-old racked up 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) last season in New Jersey. Along with Mikhail Sergachev, who Utah acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay, Marino hopes to be part of an improved defensive unit in Utah.

“I think they’re sending a message for sure doing what they did in the offseason that they want to be a competitive hockey team,” Marino said. “They have such a dangerous forward group up front, playing fast, transitional hockey. I think it’s going to be exciting. I think it’s only going to be improvement from here and who knows where it’s going to go.”

Marino followed the team’s move from Arizona to Utah closely earlier this year.

“Watching the video of all the other guys coming out on stage [during the team’s introduction event], the fan presence and the atmosphere, it seemed pretty cool,” he said. “It’s going to be special to be a part of it.”

The defenseman said he’s heard good things about the franchise — and Salt Lake City — already.

“I’ve heard nothing but great things about it, nothing about great things about the owner and what it’s going to be, the fans, the atmosphere. Talking to some of the guys who have already been out there from Arizona, nothing but good things to say about it.”

And as for his new home? Marino says he’s ready for his next chapter.

“I’ve heard it’s just beautiful there. Being up in the mountains, the scenery. There’s a ton to do, outdoor actives and everything like that,” he said. “But getting that firsthand experience will be a lot different than looking at it through my screen.”

Just one of the five New Jerseyans who signed the Declaration of Independence went on to run for public office.

Abraham Clark had served in the Continental Congress in 1776 and was the only New Jersey delegate who supported independence from the start. The pro-Independence legislature recalled their other four delegates and sent a new delegation to join Clark.

Two of his sons served in the Continental Army; both were captured and brutally tortured.  The British offered to spare the lives of Clark’s sons if he would recant his signing of the Declaration of Independence, but he refused.

Clark ran again for Congress in 1791 and was the top vote-getter. He served in the Second and Third Congress from 1791 until he died in office in 1794.

Clark was the clerk of the New Jersey Provincial Assembly, before becoming Essex County Sheriff and a member of the Provincial Congress.  Clark and four others were appointed the Continental Congress on June 21, 1776 when New Jersey replaced delegates who opposed separation.

After serving in the Continental Congress through 1778, he later represented Essex County on the New Jersey Legislative Council.

Richard Stockton, one of George Washington’s best friends, served on the New Jersey Provincial Council from 1768 to 1774, when he was named to the New Jersey Provincial Supreme Court.

While serving in the Continental Congress, Stockton ran for Governor of New Jersey.  He and William Livingston tied on the first ballot and Livingston later won the race by one vote.  As a consolation prize, Stockton was offered the post of Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, but he declined the offer.

His son and grandson represented New Jersey in the United States Senate: Richard Stockton replaced Frederick Frelinghuysen in 1796 and served two years, lost three races for governor, and then served as a congressman from 1813 to 1815; and Robert Stockton served as Military Governor of California before serving in the Senate from 1851 to 1853.

Francis Hopkinson was the customs collector in Delaware before moving to Bordentown and taking a seat on the New Jersey Provincial Council.

President Washington nominated him to serve as a judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Pennsylvania in 1789.  He served on the bench until his death in 1791.

Some historians say that Hopkinson, and not Betsy Ross, was the designer of the U.S. Flag.

John Hart began his political career as a Hunterdon County Freeholder in 1750.  He served in the New Jersey Colonial Assembly from 1761 to 1771 and later became of judge.  He served as a member of the Revolutionary Assembly before joining the Continental Congress thirteen days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

In August 1776, Hart returned to New Jersey to serve as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly.

His great-great-great-grandson, John Hart Brewer, was a New Jersey Congressman from 1881 to 1895.  Another descendant served as mayor of Hopewell and on the township committee until his defeat last year.

John Witherspoon, the president of a college that would become Princeton University, was sent to the Continental Congress in 1776 and served until 1784.  He served two terms in the New Jersey Legislature.