FORT CARSON, Colo. -- "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance to any prince, potentate, state or sovereignty ..."
Right hand raised and beaming with pride, 15 new citizens took the Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at the Fort Carson Freedom Performing Arts Center, Aug. 16.
The oath was led by Bill Winfield, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Denver Field Office.
The 15 newest Americans included Soldiers, Airmen, a Marine and Family members representing 11 different countries: Czech Republic, Colombia, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Palau, Panama, Philippines, Poland and Turkey.
Winfield welcomed the former foreigners into a cultural, religious and ideologically diverse group of citizens who form the United States of America.
"People continue to immigrate here to the United States for many different reasons. Some are drawn for economic opportunities, other for religious or political freedom. Some come to join a family member, … others had to leave their family behind knowing they will never see them again," Winfield said. "But each of you has a story to tell, a story that involves risk, courage and a story of hope. And I hope that you share your story with your children and your children's children so that it will not be forgotten."
Each new citizen's story of arriving in the United States was as varied as his origins.
Marine Lance Cpl. David DeLeon, assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron 23 at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, plans to celebrate the new citizenship with family. He was born in Panama and enlisted in 2011 with the "desire to have a better life pretty much, become better. Right now I am a Marine, which I never expected to be one, and … I'll just try to do my best," he said.
The path that led DeLeon to naturalization was fast tracked.
"After I enlisted, it didn't take me that long, perhaps three months or so," he said.
Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Pvt. Parmiria M. Kipetu, Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, initially came to the United States to study and then he chose to join the military because "there is also education for military."
He remembers well the night he arrived from Africa.
"The first thing I saw was the Space Needle in Seattle, and the lights, the different lights, very different from the lighting system in Kenya. When we were almost landing, you see all the lights and people busy, by themselves."
Generosity was another trait of the American people Kipetu experienced right away.
"I didn't have a cell phone so I had to borrow one from people I didn't know and they actually helped me out. I think America is a great country. Yes, it is."
Besides English, Kipetu speaks Swahili, his native language, and Maasai, an African tribal dialect. He hopes to join Special Forces in the future and perhaps serve for the U.S. Army Africa Command where his language skills would be most valuable.
Native of Czech Republic, Lucie Holloway arrived as a college student in 2004 and submitted an application for the green card immediately. She moved to Colorado to follow her American husband, Capt. Kevin Holloway assigned to 4th Sqdn., 10th Cavalry Reg., 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Although she may miss "the food, the history and the old buildings of her native land," she chose to become an American for "love of freedom and the fact that each state is different" … wherever you go, there is so much to do and see, she said.
Kate McNeely, Fort Carson immigration services, said Army Community Service assists the Mountain Post applicants to review immigration paperwork and confirm filing status with the Denver Immigration Office.
"We naturalize an average of 300 new citizens a year," she said, "and we host a naturalization ceremony every month." The candidates come from all over the world, and the nationalities more represented come from the Philippines, Africa and Germany, she said.
The path to citizenship is a long and intense process. McNeely said its time varies depending upon each individual's ability to complete the necessary documentation and whether a candidate is active duty or a Family member, for example.
Naturalization applicants must prove high moral character, ace a background check, demonstrate an ability to read, write, and speak words in ordinary usage in the English language, and have a knowledge and understanding of U.S. history and government.
Only at the end of this process can people be sworn in as American citizens.
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