Hundreds gathered at DC Superior Court in Northwest yesterday to celebrate with the men, women and children who officially became families during the District’s 17th Annual Adoption Day in Court ceremony.

Nearly 500 people came to see 43 youngsters and their parents receive adoption decrees from the judges who worked with the adults, the children and the social workers during the arduous adoption process.

They also got a chance to meet Antwone Fisher, an acclaimed author and screenwriter who grew up in foster care and had been repeatedly abused and neglected before leaving the system.