Servicemembers become part of nation they serve

By Pvt. Howard KetterAugust 12, 2009

Naturalization Ceremony
Maj. Gen Rogers, commander 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) and officers from the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Rome, Italy stood with the 40 new U.S. citizens for photos after their Naturalization Ceremony that took place in the Zone 1 C... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Forty servicemembers pledged their allegiance to their new home country at the Zone 1 Chapel, on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 6.

1st Theater Sustainment Command and the U.S. Citizenship and immigration services, held a naturalization ceremony making servicemembers who joined the U.S. military from other countries, official citizens of United States of America.

Their home countries included Togo, Mexico, Venezuela, Cameroon, Palau, Philippines, Colombia, India, Trinidad, Liberia, Micronesia, Peoples Republic of China, Korea, Peru, Vietnam, Croatia, Australia, Peoples Democratic Republic of Laos, El Salvador and American Samoa.

The ceremony began with an invocation by Chaplain (Lt. Col.) David P. Gilleran, 1st TSC Deputy Chaplain.

Following, was the National Anthem sung by Staff Sgts Antwain Williams and Antonio Merell along with Pfc. Tyler Grant. Then there was a video presentation of Faces of America, a short video about immigration to America.

Maj. Gen. James E. Rogers, commanding general, 1st TSC, was the keynote speaker for the ceremony.

Rogers spoke on how proud he was to see servicemembers joining the nation that they serve.

"It's truly remarkable that today, far away from the United States of America, in a country that has stood side-by-side with us, the state of Kuwait, that 39 young Soldiers and a Sailor would be welcomed with open arms into a country they've already sworn to protect," said Rogers.

Then, the candidates stood and were introduced to the audience. Mr. Jonah Hadary, adjudications officer, U.S. Citizen & Immigration Services - Rome, Italy, presented the candidates. They were ordered to raise their right hand and Mr. Robert Daum, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services Field Office Director, administered the oath of allegiance.

After officially becoming U.S. citizens, the 40 candidates marched onto the stage one at a time and introduced themselves and told what country they came from.

The servicemembers received certificates and shook hands with the official party while many people in the audience took photos and cheered for their fellow servicemembers.

The ceremony closed the pledge of allegiance led by Pfc. Lisandro Lantigua, who was originally from the Dominican Republic.

Once the colors were retired, proud servicemembers gave hugs and laughed, celebrating their comrades joining what many Americans call the greatest nation on earth.