Photo By Master Sgt. Paula Aragon | Senior Airman Jean Sime poses with his certificate, which states he is officially a...... read more read more
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Senior Airman Jean D. Sime became a U.S. citizen at naturalization swearing-in ceremony at the start of the 150th Maintenance Group roll call here Saturday, Sept. 12.
Fellow Guardsmen in attendance witnessed as Anthony Deverieux from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administered the citizenship oath to Sime, who swore his allegiance to the United States.
Sime was born in Leogane, Haiti, and came to the United States when he was about 6 years old. He said he always thought of himself as an American and chose to join the Air Force to serve the nation he thought of as his homeland. He spent six years serving in the active duty Air Force as a metals technology technician before joining the New Mexico Air National Guard.
“To uproot your life, to move to another country, and to make a new life takes courage, faith and determination. I honestly am not sure I could do what Jean and his family has done,” said Master Sgt. Daniel Storkson, Fabrication Shop technician. “I am honored to be here, honored to be in your company Jean. What you have accomplished by getting to this place is remarkable. The distances you have traveled, the obstacles you have overcome, and the efforts you have made to put down roots here should, and I hope will, always be a source of pride and satisfaction to you.”
The process to become a United States citizen is a long series of paperwork and documentation. Sime said his mother encouraged him to get through it and make her proud. He said it took almost a year to get all of the necessary paperwork and documentation to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Department of Homeland Security.
“It wasn’t easy, but I feel it is definitely worth it,” said Sime. “Now I have to concentrate on getting a (full-time) job.”
Sime has done it the Guard way - set a goal, reach it and then set a new one.
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2015 13:36 |
| Story ID: | 176225 |
| Location: | ALBUQUERQUE, NM, US |
| Hometown: | LEOGANE, HT |
| Web Views: | 161 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, New Mexico Air National Guardsman takes oath of citizenship, by TSgt Katherine Mullins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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