FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Twenty-two Fort Carson Soldiers and Family members from 14 countries pledged their allegiance to the United States during a naturalization ceremony Jan. 20 at Grant Library.
The patriotic ceremony featured the national anthem, the new citizens receiving the oath of citizenship, Family and friends in attendance joining in to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, a video message from President Barrack Obama and a "Proud to be an American" video montage prior to awarding the certificates of citizenship.
"I love everything about this country and couldn't wait for this day," Pvt. Emanuel Fiocco, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, said following the ceremony.
Fiocco said he has wanted to serve in the military and become a U.S. citizen since he moved to the United States when he was 9.
"It's what I wanted to do the whole time," he said. "I want to fight for this country ... it's where my family is from, I want to protect them and my country."
He is the last of his family to become a citizen; his two children were born in Miami.
"I'm excited ... proud to wear this uniform," he said. "I was proud before, but now I feel like I earned it."
Smiles abounded as the new citizens and their Family and friends in attendance shared the excitement of the day as these 22 people were afforded the rights and privileges of being an American citizen.
Richard Pennie, immigration service officer, noted the new citizens were from 14 different countries; a testament to the diversity that makes up the United States. While the Bahamas, Burma, China, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, South Korea and Turkey were all represented, Pennie said he was most touched by knowing these Soldiers had pledged to defend the nation before becoming citizens.
"It was a very warm, touching situation to come here and swear in the troops today," he said. "To know that these men and women are serving our country in times of war, and that they freely ... decided they were going to stand up and defend this country is very morally warming to my heart."
Kate McNeely, Fort Carson immigration services, said Army Community Service is honored to assist the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in bestowing American citizenship on the Fort Carson military community. She said more than 200 Mountain Post community members gained their citizenship through the ACS program in 2010.
McNeely assists active-duty servicemembers and their Families, retirees and reservists who wish to become U.S. citizens. She visits with the applicants to assess their situation and then assists them in putting their application packages together.
Once the process is complete, which McNeely said usually takes about three months, applicants are called in for a morning interview with an immigration and naturalization counselor and then take a naturalization test - an oral exam of up to 10 questions on history, government and geography pulled from a list of 100 questions in the study guide. Those that pass the interview and test return in the afternoon for the formal ceremony where they receive their certificate of citizenship.
Soldiers and Family members wanting to become U.S. citizens can contact McNeely at 526-0457 or e-mail kate.mcneely@us.army.mil to schedule an appointment.
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