Photo By Cpl. Megan Murray | Haitian-born Lance Cpl. Ricoeur Delinois, a Marine with 1st Battalion, 12th Marine...... read more read more
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CAMP VICTORY, Iraq – According to the Department of Defense, more than 29,000 men and women are serving in the armed forces although they were born outside the United States. That number was trimmed March 3, 2009, inside Baghad's lavish Al Faw palace, a former resort used by Saddam Hussein and his Ba'athist regime.
Now home to the headquarters for Multi-National Force - Iraq, Al Faw palace served as a backdrop for a mass naturalization ceremony that welcomed 251 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines as new U.S. citizens.
Among these men and women were more than 30 Marines and sailors from Multi-National Force - West, and included men and women from II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), Regimental Combat Teams 6 and 8, and Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 27. These Marines and sailors represent a cross-section of the world, originally hailing from Central and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Among them was Lance Cpl. Ricoeur Delinois, who immigrated to the United States from Haiti at age 12, eventually settling in New York City. Seven years later, at the age of 19, he joined the Marine Corps.
"If anyone [immigrants] asks me if they should get their U.S. citizenship, I'd say 'go for it.'," said Delinois, an administrative Marine normally assigned to the 12th Marine Regiment now serving in Iraq as an augment for Task Force Military Police. "It's a wonderful experience."
On July 3, 2002, former President George W. Bush signed into law Executive Order Number 13269, which streamlined the citizenship process for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and cut what was once a long, difficult and time-consuming process down from an average of five years to a matter of months.
Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the commanding general of Multi-National Corps - Iraq, presided over the ceremony, assisted in this effort by officials from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security. After Austin's brief opening remarks, he turned the floor over to Robert Daum, field director of the U.S.C.I.S. office in Rome.
"Today is a very special day," Daum said. "Today is the recognition of the tremendous sacrifice that each of you, the candidates for citizenship, has made on behalf of a grateful nation."
"I want to thank you for paying the price of being an American each day you put on the uniform," Daum continued, "even when the promise of citizenship has not been fully realized."
"In a few moments, all that will change."
Daum then asked the service members to stand and raise their right hands as another U.S.C.I.S. official, John Lafferty, administered to the former immigrants an oath of allegiance to the United States. Austin, Daum and Lafferty then presented each man and woman their certificate of citizenship and an American flag.
Maj. Gen. R.T. Tryon, commanding general of MNF-W, and key members of his staff travelled to Baghdad from their headquarters at Al Asad Air Base in the Al Anbar province to witness the ceremony. Among these Marines was Gunnery Sgt. Steven Whalen, MNF-W's adjutant chief.
"I served as the liaison [between the U.S.C.I.S.] and all MNF-W commands," said Whalen, referring to his role in the naturalization ceremony. "Seeing them become citizens is motivating. I was glad to be part of it."
The service members' first act as new citizens was to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and listen to a rendition of Lee Greenwood's classic patriotic song, "God Bless the U.S.A."
"Being an American citizen feels wonderful and exciting – it just feels really good," added Delinois. "Having my citizenship is an honor and a privilege."
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2009 04:07 |
| Story ID: | 30841 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 411 |
| Downloads: | 318 |
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