Photo By Spc. Shea Butler | Sgt. Sergio Martinez, with 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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By Spc. Shea Butler
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Millions of Americans will take the day off work and spread picnic blankets across The Land of the Free as neighbors and friends fire up their grills, celebrating Independence Day. Thousands of miles away in Iraq, one Soldier defending America's freedoms, prepares his combat uniform for a ceremony that will change his life. He carefully inspects the placement of his nametape, unit patches, and especially the American flag. The flag of a country that today, he can finally call his own.
After five years of military service, Sgt. Sergio Martinez, 24, with 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, along with 160 other Soldiers, became an American citizen during a naturalization ceremony at the Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory in western Baghdad. Another 585 Soldiers chose to mark the anniversary of the nation's Independence by re-enlisting during the dual ceremony.
Pvt. Roger Davis, who was a part of the re-enlistment portion of the ceremony, was moved by the naturalization of his comrades in arms.
"You hear about people fighting to become citizens, but to actually see their dreams come true was amazing," Davis said.
Martinez, who is on his third deployment to Iraq, said he is looking forward to telling his sons his dreams have come true.
"I want to tell my sons that if you want something, you have to work for it like I did," Martinez said. "I don't want them to take their freedom for granted."
Martinez came from Mexico to America when he was a 5-year-old.
"I didn't mind serving even though I wasn't a citizen," Martinez said. "I serve as a 'Thank you,' to America for the things she has given my family and me."
Now that he is a citizen, he is looking forward to furthering his military career by joining the Army Special Forces, which wasn't an option as a non-citizen, Martinez said.
Not only does citizenship allow him to advance in his career, but he is also now allowed to vote for the first time in 19 years of living in America.
"It's going to be nice to vote for the person I think should be president," he said.
| Date Taken: | 07.05.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.05.2007 09:28 |
| Story ID: | 11130 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 255 |
| Downloads: | 230 |
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