By Natalie Simmel and Ella Haendel
TOWER BARRACKS, Germany – As part of a special program to naturalize active-duty service members and their families, U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted a virtual naturalization ceremony at the Tower View Conference Center, Oct. 2. In total, 35 candidates from 21 countries were administered the Oath of Allegiance.
Following the national anthem the participants took the “Oath of Allegiance”, virtually conducted by a representative with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, marking the start of their new lives as American citizens.
The citizens naturalized at the ceremony originally came from Benin, Ghana, Philippines, Colombia, Germany, Cuba, Burkina Faso, Honduras, Bangladesh, China, Cameroon, South Korea, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Romania, Italy and Cote D’Ivoire.
“Today marks not an end but a beginning,” said Brig. Gen. Terry Tillis, commanding general of the 7th Army Training Command. “Becoming a citizen is about embracing the responsibilities that come with belonging to a community. It's about contributing to the well-being of our society and upholding the principles that unite all of us.”
The ceremony concluded with Garrison Commander Col. Stephen C. Flanagan and Command Sgt. Maj. James A. Boersma distributing certificates of naturalization to America’s newest citizens.
“America has been built by immigrants. This makes our nation richer, stronger, and more diverse than anywhere else in the world,” said Flanagan during his remarks.
“America’s strength doesn’t only lie in its Armed Forces or economy as much it does in the hearts and minds of its people. People of strong character who, in their own ways, step up to move America forward,” he said. “Thank you for bringing you – your culture, your familial customs and personal histories with you to the place of your new citizenry.”
In old tradition the ceremony concluded with the youngest participant, Long Xiang Lin from China, cutting the cake with Col. Stephen C. Flanagan.
Long Xiang Lin from China cutting the cake with Col. Stephen C. Flanagan.
View additional photos of the event here.
Here’s a list of all the newly naturalized U.S. citizens:
Djmal Akitola Adjilye – Benin
Yvonne OpokuAgyemang – Ghana
Kweku Danso Arthur – Ghana
Cinderella Jamero Barker – Phillipines
Jose Miguel Ramirez Bedoya – Colombia
Eva Day – Germany
Melanie Simone Feuerer - Germany
Jorge Javier Gomez Gonzalez – Cuba
Sabrina Maria Hinkle – Germany
Ovive Moses Jonathan Churchill Houmbie – Benin
Julia Hubka – Germany
Pengwendenau Roseline Ilboudo – Burkina Faso
Junior David Oseguera Irias – Honduras
Mst Sumya Binte Jui – Bangladesh
Long Xiang Lin – China
Piero Alexander Mendoza Lopez – Peru
Ramona Lupu – Romania
Ernesto Martinez Martinez – Cuba
Beyonce Nicole Malicse Mateo – Philippines
Rita Bih Ngufor – Cameroon
Abena Oselowusu – Ghana
Younghoon Park – South Korea
Susan Cecilia Parrales – Honduras
Edva Paulem – Haiti
Miguel Jose Reyes Perez – Dominican Republic
Rhowell Nhover Pastor Ramilo – Philippines
Yesenia Rosales Ramirez – Mexico
Isidro Alcaraz Rivera – Mexico
Maria Mercedes Rodriguez – Venezuela
Victoria Lara Oliveira Schenk – Brazil
Nadja Evelyn Schoonover – Germany
Silke Ursula Velez – Germany
Emilce Johanna Williams – Italy
Zhenyu Xi – China
Mambo Jonathan Yapo – Cote D’Ivoire
| Date Taken: | 10.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2025 08:06 |
| Story ID: | 550012 |
| Location: | GRAFENWOEHR, BAYERN, DE |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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