Photo By Staff Sgt. Robert Ponder | Spc. David Cespedes of the 53rd Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry...... read more read more
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CAMP LEMONNIER, DJIBOUTI - In front of a small group of fellow Soldiers from Task Force Seminole, Spc. David Cespedes of Sebring, Florida received his American citizenship in a naturalization ceremony conducted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services out of Nairobi, Kenya on Feb. 8, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
Cespedes, a wheeled vehicle mechanic, for the Florida Army National Guard, was born in San Jose, Costa Rica in 1993. When he was just a small child his parents requested and received their visas to visit the United States.
“For a lot of people growing up outside of the U.S., going and visiting the U.S. is something they want to experience at least once in their lives,” said Cespedes.
After visiting the U.S. for only a few short weeks, his parents decided to leave everything they knew in Costa Rica, packed only what they needed and moved to the states.
Growing up, Cespedes had no plans on joining the military, until around the age of 14 when his family received their legal residency.
In 2013, Cespedes joined the FLARNG and now serves with the 53rd Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment. He is currently deployed to East Africa with his unit, in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.
Prior to his Mobilization and Deployment, with the help of fellow Soldier and friend, Sgt. Luis Tejada, Spc. Cespedes was able to get all the documents prepared and submitted, so that he could work on finally receiving his U.S. Citizenship.
Sgt. Tejada also a member of the Florida Army National Guard was born and raised in Columbia, South America, and had just received his U.S. Citizenship just months prior to the deployment. Fully knowing the efforts and work that goes into this process, he stepped in to help.
“I started helping Cespedes after I knew the process of how to become a U.S. citizen,” said Tejada. “I saw a lot of me in him, as in a sense that we shared very common stories. Our parents brought us here to show us a better life.”
What could take upwards of a few years, Cespedes was able to expedite his citizenship through military service.
“To me, earning my citizenship through service means a lot more,” Cespedes said. “For me, there is a real sense of pride there.”
With only a couple months left in his deployment, soon Spc. Cespedes will be able to take his first steps on American soil as an official U.S. citizen.
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2016 15:00 |
| Story ID: | 193068 |
| Location: | CAMP LEMONNIER, DJ |
| Web Views: | 518 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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