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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Mar 18, 2010 - 5:39:57 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Service members stand for the national anthem at the start of the Naturalization Ceremony held at the Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, July Fourth. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Karah Cohen. |
CAMP VICTORY, BAGHDAD - Beneath a 50-foot American flag, 237 service members from 59 countries became U.S. citizens. They recited the Oath of Allegiance in the rotunda of the Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory, Iraq during a naturalization ceremony on Independence Day.
"On this Fourth of July I'm reminded that you're carrying the torch of our founding fathers from 233 years ago, and yes, as of today they are your founding fathers," said Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Biden was here to participate in high level meetings with Iraqi officials, as well as to participate in the ceremony.
The words, "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." are found on the Statue of Liberty, but General Raymond T. Odierno, commanding general, U.S. forces - Iraq, did not believe it fit the crowd before him.
"If I had to write a description of the soon to be citizens in this rotunda I would say: give me your brightest and your bravest. Give me your warriors and your heroes who will enhance our great nation and strive to keep her safe," he said.
Spc. Tamaleilau Mose, a paralegal specialist with the 81st Brigade Special Ttroops Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, travelled over 300 km to get to Camp Victory, hopping Blackhawk helicopters and sleeping in transient tents along the way. All the while, she had a single mission in mind -- that mission was to become a United States citizen.
Mose, a native of American Samoa, had not originally intended on naturalizing here. She became aware of the possibility through the work she was doing for other Soldiers.
Her excitement was apparent in her beaming smile and the gleam in her eyes.
"Being in the Judge Advocate General's office at Contingency Operating Base Q-West with the 16th Sustainment Brigade, we provide services such as legal assistance, which included naturalization," said Mose. "From the beginning, a lot of Soldiers came in for their naturalization packets. I didn't know anything about it and so quickly got to know the whole process. I got in touch with U. S. Citizenship and Imigration Services in Rome and started sending packets through them and got a feel for everything," she added. So in April, Mose sent in her own packet.
Her family in Kent, Wash. since 1993, is unaware that she will get her citizenship on the Fourth of July. Indeed, this will be quite a surprise for the holiday.
"It feels great to help Soldiers. I understand a lot of them come from different backgrounds," Mose said. "It's tough trying to get anywhere, especially being in the United States without having citizenship. I understand the frustration of being in the military and not even being able to vote. Something as simple as that, it means a lot to someone who isn't a citizen," she continued.
Mose added one last comment that summarized her feelings about her participation in this process.
"For me, it's like watching your kids grow up. Me being here and having helped all these other Soldiers... I feel very fulfilled. "
Spc. Fanfan Mazard is currently stationed at Camp Taji, Iraq, and received his citizenship on Fourth of July here as well.
Mazard, whose family is from Port au Prince, Haiti and now mostly reside in Deerfield Beach, Fla. will be the first in his family to be naturalized. His aspirations vary from going back to school to becoming a police officer. He even suggested, perhaps, becoming an air conditioning mechanic.
"We have no jobs down there (in Haiti). Most of us had to have people from the States send us money so we could leave and come to the United States, "said Mazard. "I didn't have anything to do there, just go to school. And when you're done with school, you can't get a job because they don't have anything," Mose continued.
He added yet another reason why this was such a relevant step to him.
"I think it's important because my wife, she's a citizen. She's able to vote but I couldn't because I wasn't a citizen. But now, I'll be able to participate!" he said as a smile grew on his face.
"I feel so happy because I've been trying hard," Mazard said. "I can't wait for that day to come. Today, I don't think I'm even going to be able to go to sleep. I'm going to be calling my family and telling them that I became a citizen. I'm happy!" he added, never dropping that smile.
Spc. Jesus Moran-Alvarez, an Army artillery track mechanic from Santa Maria, Calif.., joined the Army to be tested, he said. He wanted to see if he was actually capable of making it through.
Alvarez is one of dozens of applicants who applied and tested for citizenship at Camp Victory in Iraq.
"My mother and I are the only two that aren't citizens in my family. All my siblings were born in the U.S. I go home for Christmas so it's my turn to put a boot in her behind," Alvarez said with a laugh.
"Something as small as being able to vote, choosing who your next president will be, it's a big thing to me, especially after I've spent most of my life in the States, it's something that I've always wanted to do," he said.
Alvarez's family is from Teocaltiche Jalisko, Mexico but has lived in California for over 20 years.
"They've worked hard to get where they're at, to help us succeed, to see one of their children serve a great country that they admire. They're proud of that," he continued.
"It is an honor and a privilege to be invited to a ceremony for citizenship and to receive a letter from President Obama, the first African-American president," Spc. Ammar Al Khalidi, Iraq native, interpreter, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, said. "I'm making history and when I have kids, I plan to show the letter to them with pride."
Ending the ceremony was the sound of 237 Service members standing at attention proudly reciting the Pledge of Allegiance as citizens of the United States.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Service members raise their hands for the Oath of Allegiance during the Naturalization Ceremony held at the Al Faw Palace in Baghdad July Fourth. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Karah Cohen. |
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| Vice President Joe Biden speaks to Service members during a naturalization ceremony at the Al Faw Palace July 4, as Gen. Ray Odierno, commander, Multi National Force - Iraq, Gregory B. Smith, associate director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Lori Pietropaoli, deputy director of USCIS Rome, look on. |
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Comments
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Please read our Terms of use for more information.
charles mcdonald
15 Aug 2009, 09:51
Hi Sir,
I tried to go to the links you sudgested but it wont work. Is there some
thing missing.
Respectfully
Sgt McDonald.
COL Patrick Rice
08 Aug 2009, 21:28
SGT MdDonald et al: Attached below are the links for the Naturalization
photos:
Commanding General Photos:
https://www.corps.intranet.iraq.centcom.mil/sites/Staff/c1/Naturalization%2
0Ceremony%20Commanding%20General%20Picture/Forms/AllItems.aspx
Vice President Photos:
https://www.corps.intranet.iraq.centcom.mil/sites/Staff/c1/Naturalization%2
0Ceremony%20Vice%20President%20Pictures/Forms/AllItems.aspx
Charles McDonald
08 Aug 2009, 09:05
HI Sir/ Mam
My name is Sgt McDonald.I was on the 4th july ceremony with 3 other
soldiers from FOB Bucca. We were told the same as your previous mesage.
But still have not recieved any pics yet. If you could help in any way that
would be great. Thank you all so very much. Please let every one there
know we appreciate all the hard work every one did to make that day
special. Respectfully
Sgt Charles McDonald. FOB BUCCA
COL Rice
23 Jul 2009, 10:04
I will send you a note about your pictures tomorrow. COL Rice, CJ1 MNCI
houbban mohammed
22 Jul 2009, 00:50
July 4th 2009naturalization ceremony at faw palace in baghdad,we being told
that we are going to recieve our pictures by Email but nothing happen,we
are 17 soldier from FOB MAREZ,how we can get those pictures,and what we
have to do to get them.
ALL TEAM SOLDIER
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
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