U.S. Servicemembers Become U.S. Citizens At White House
(April 27, 2010) | 
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| WASHINGTON (Army News Service, April 23, 2010) -- Two dozen Soldiers, Sailors,
Airmen and Marines became citizens of the United States, April 23, during a
naturalization ceremony at the White House.
The event was hosted by President Barack Obama. The president was joined by
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, and Alejandro Mayorkas,
director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The servicemembers hailed from nations such as Brazil, China, Colombia, England,
Ethiopia, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the
Philippines, Poland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago. |
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| Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines raise
their hands and swear allegiance to the United States during a
naturalization ceremony, April 23, at the White House. |
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"It is a great honor to serve as your commander in chief and it is my greatest
pleasure to be among the first to greet you as a fellow American," said Obama,
following the oath of citizenship.
"Some of you came to America as children, holding tight to your parents' hands
as you arrived in a new world," he said. "Some of you came as adults, leaving
everything you knew behind as you pursued a new life. While your stories are
your own, today, we celebrate the common spirit that lives within each of you --
the spirit that has renewed and strengthened America for more than two
centuries."
The president told the new Americans -- each already serving the nation as
members of the Armed Forces -- that being a citizen comes with responsibilities.
"Citizenship is not just a collection of rights, but it is also a set of
responsibilities," he said. "Like so many others, these men and women met their
responsibilities, they have earned their citizenship." |
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| President Barack Obama salutes a Sailor
following naturalization ceremony, April 23, at the White House.
During the ceremony, 24 U.S. service members took the oath of
allegiance to the United States, becoming American citizens in the
process. |
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Since Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. has naturalized over 58,000 members of the Armed
Forces, Napolitano said.
"It takes a very special individual to serve and defend a nation that is not yet
your own, but that is what each of you are doing, that is testimony to your
strong sense of patriotism," she said.
Included among those who became U.S. citizens were: Pfc. Andrew Smith, 400th
Military Police Battalion, Fort Meade, Md.; Spc. James Muchoki, 634th Battle
Support Group, Springfield, Ill.; and Pfc. Michael Z. Armstrong, 450th Civil
Affairs Battalion (Airborne)."It means a lot to me -- I believe in freedom,"
said Smith, on becoming a citizen. "There's no better way to go if you live in
this country -- I love this country. I want to be a citizen."
Hailing from Jamaica, Smith has been in the U.S. for eight years. He says it was
the professionalism of the Army that drew him in.
Muchoki, who is originally from Kenya, said he originally served in the U.S. Air
Force, but was attracted to the Army because it offered him the option to serve
as an x-ray technician. He said he's been in the U.S. since 1992, and chose to
pursue citizenship after getting a family and "finally settling down." |
Marine Corps Sergeant Ledum D. Ndaanee was
awarded the "Outstanding American by Choice" award by
President Barack Obama, during a ceremony at the White
House, April 23, 2010. The award highlights the importance
of citizenship rights and responsibilities through
recognition of the outstanding achievements of naturalized
U.S. citizens. Ndaanee, originally from Nigeria, joined the
U.S. Marine Corps in 2004, and became an American citizen in
2007. |
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"It's a very exciting day, finally, it feels like it was the last thing I
needed to do," he said.
Armstrong, originally from England, has been in the U.S. for six years now.
His father is a member of the U.S. Air Force. He said he joined the Army "to
try something new," and says meeting the president and getting citizenship
was an important moment in his life.
"It was brilliant, one of the most memorable moments in my life, actually,"
he said.
Following the naturalization ceremony, the president asked Marine Corps Sgt.
Ledum D. Ndaanee to come forward.Ndaanee was presented with the
"Outstanding American by Choice" award. The award highlights the importance
of citizenship rights and responsibilities through recognition of the
outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. Ndaanee, originally
from Nigeria, joined the Marine Corps in 2004, and became an American
citizen in 2007. |
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The following 24 servicemembers became American citizens, April 23:
- Pfc. Michael Zach Armstrong, U.S. Army, originally from England
- Senior Airman Lenard Canlas Belvis, U.S. Air Force Reserve, originally from the
Philippines
- Seaman Tei Aristide Bislao, U.S. Navy, originally from Togo
- Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Cabalerro, U.S. Navy, originally from Spain
- Airman Maria-Antonette Capio Cabantog, U.S. Air Force, originally from the
Philippines
- Aviation Machinist Mate Perla Conception Ramos de Chavira, U.S. Navy, originally
from Mexico
- Petty Officer 3rd Class Rommel Cruz Cuenco, U.S. Navy, originally from the
Philippines
- Seaman Affeya Tiffany Christine Grant, U.S. Navy, originally from Guyana
- Sgt. Therica Tameica Hutchinson, U.S. Army, originally from Jamaica
- Senior Airman Oscar Gaspar Manrique, U.S. Air Force, originally from Peru
- Cpl. Granger Lawrence Michael, U.S. Marine Corps, originally from Papua New
Guinea
- Petty Officer 3rd Class Roosevelt Joseph, U.S. Navy, originally from Haiti
- Petty Officer 3rd Class Raquel De Olivera Moura, U.S. Navy, originally from
Brazil
- Spc. James Nyaga Muchoki, U.S. Army, originally from Kenya
- Seaman Recruit Jerdaine Devon Oldacre, U.S. Navy, originally from Jamaica
- Soraya Conceicao Ross, U.S. Marine Corps, originally from Brazil
- Capt. Charlyston Schultz, U.S. Marine Corps, originally from Brazil
- Cpl. Raul Pagaduan Sibayan, U.S. Army, originally from the Philippines
- Private 1st Class Andrew Hopeton Smith, U.S. Army, originally from Jamaica
- Pfc. Marcin Dominik Staniszewski, U.S. Marine Corps, originally from Poland
- Pfc. Berhan Kifetew Teferi, U.S. Army, originally from Ethiopia
- Seaman Recruit Pitrianne Natoya Williams, U.S. Navy, originally from Jamaica
- Airman Yu Yuan, U.S. Air Force, originally from China
- Petty Officer 3rd Class Jhonathan Zapata Garcia, U.S. Navy, originally from
Colombia
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Article and photos by C. Todd Lopez
Copyright 2010
Reprinted from
Army News Service
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