 Military News
"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. 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