10th Public Affairs Operations Center

Story by Spc. Crystal Abbott

September 17 is a day remembered in history. On this day in 1787, the Constitution of the United States was signed in Philadelphia, assuring those living in the U.S. of their rights as a citizen. In 2004, Sept.17 became known as Citizenship Day, so it is only right that servicemembers and Family members could take the day to celebrate their newly acquired United States citizenship.

Seventy-four service members and military spouses, 33 of whom are from Fort Bragg, raised their right hands and took the oath of allegiance for naturalized citizens during a naturalization ceremony Sept. 17, aboard the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington.

The ceremony started with the presentation of colors by the N.C. Army National Guard Honor Guard and the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner by the 2nd Marine Division Band, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Giving the welcoming address was Jeffrey Sapko, field office director for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Durham, N.C.

"It is a singular privilege and pleasure for us to be with all of you today, especially for this particular event," said Sapko.

"Citizenship is not just something that we have, it is not just something that we call ourselves, but it is a conscious decision that we make everyday to be citizens of the United States"

Also in attendance was Miss U.S.A. 2009, Kristen Dalton of Wilmington.

She thanked the military members and their Families for the services and sacrifices they make to protect the ideals and values of the United States.

Dalton said she was honored to welcome the newest citizens as fellow Americans and bid them "fair winds" in their future journeys.

Giving the oath of allegiance for naturalized citizens was Debra Rogers, USCIS deputy chief of domestic operations. Before the actual ceremony, John Falkenbury, presient and chief operations officer of the USO of North Carolina and the Honorable Bill Saffo, mayor of Wilmington, spoke to the group.

The pledge of allegiance was recited following the oath, led by Panama native Katherine Quinlan Dixon, a Fort Bragg military spouse who was naturalized during the ceremony.

Closing the ceremony was U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones, Jr., who reminded the new Americans what constitutionals rights they are now guaranteed as citizens of the U.S.

Mirroring Jones' setiments was Pfc. Yunia Cabrera.

"I am really excited to be a citizen of the United States," said Cabrera, a human resources specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 7th Transportation Battalion, 82nd Sustainment Brigade. "I like the military very much. Because I have my citizenship, I can now reenlist in the Army and progress my career. I now have more rights to do the things I want to do in my life."

Those from Fort Bragg who became naturalized are: Pfc. Yunia Cabrera, Pfc. Niterson Laplante, Pfc. Smith Jean-Louis, Pfc. Carlos Merchan, Pfc. Jose Zamora, Spc. Juni Lazo, Spc. Gabriela Martinez, Spc. Patricio Salgado, Spc. Renwick Salvador, Spc. Lixin Wong, Sgt. Ferron Fenton, Sgt. Melanie Fredrick, Birgit Cheshire, Linabel Crotty, Evelin Curry, Katherine Quinlan Dixon, France Donovan, Luz Evans, Angelica Fajardo, Ana Gonzalez, Yalan Liu, Malgorzata Makuchowski, Hilsia Mayernik, Claudia Newman, Jessica Pedraza, Layd Perez, Esfe Ranario, Rosity Robertson, Diana Saenz, Norma Salisbury, Darys Smith, Marlene Snyder, Marvaline Tilles, and Tolande Vickers.

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