By: Sgt. Allyson Parla
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Since the 16th century, people of the Caribbean have been inextricably linked to the North American continent.
A reminder of this country’s greatness is the historical contributions by people such as Alexander Hamilton, who, among other accomplishments, served as a soldier in the American Revolutionary War. He later became the senior aide-de-camp for Gen. George Washington. Hamilton, who is credited as being one of America’s “Founding Fathers” and helped design the government of the U.S., was born and raised in the Caribbean.
Pvt. Marlyne Delice is a food service specialist for the 77th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and a native of Port au Prince, Haiti. Delice took the Oath of Allegiance and became a U.S. citizen during an Independence Day naturalization ceremony at Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, Iraq, likely the last ceremony to be held in Baghdad.
In attendance, among others was Gen. Lloyd Austin, III, the commanding general of United States Forces-Iraq, and about 45 service members who participated in the ceremony seeking citizenship. Delice, who resides in Roselle, N.J., has been in the military for two years, following in the footsteps of her relatives who served before her.
“My grandfather used to be in the [Haitian] Army too,” said Delice.
Unlike her ancestors, who likely faced obstacles of slavery, colonialism and struggled for independence, Delice has fond memories of growing up in Haiti.
“It was pretty awesome,” Delice said. “I had a good life. I had a maid, chauffer, went to private school, and lived in a big house. Coming here, there are ups and downs. If I could combine both worlds, that would be ideal.”
Delice was raised by her grandmother for three years while her mother attended school in the United States. Coming to the U.S. was a surprise.
“They never actually told me I’m moving to the States, they just told me I’m visiting— going for summer vacation and coming back,” she said referring to her mother’s and grandmother’s disclosure about her travels on the day she left.
The process of gaining citizenship seems to have been expedited, which she credits to her military service. For her mother and sister, the process of gaining citizenship took about a year, as opposed to the five-month processing time for naturalization.
Even after the ceremony ended and her citizenship was finalized, Delice said the event still seemed unreal.
“I kind of almost gave up on trying to apply because I applied so many times; I was almost just ready to let it go,” said Delice. “We were still skeptical –still to the day-until we actually saw the citizenship paper. We didn’t believe it up until the time we signed the certificate.”
Service members were given 100 questions to study that would possibly be asked during a test on American history, a requirement for naturalization.
“I was studying flashcards,” said Delice. “When do we vote for president? Who is the first president? What’s the highest court in the U.S.? Who is vice president right now? If the president and vice President cannot run, who runs in their place? There were a lot of easy questions, but there were definitely questions I did not know [the answers to].”
Since the recognition of Caribbean American heritage month six years ago in June, the White House has issued an annual proclamation recognizing their contributions.
President Obama’s proclamation this year highlights influential Caribbean Americans including Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the pioneer settler of Chicago; Claude McKay, a poet of the Harlem Renaissance; James Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black National Anthem; Shirley Chisolm, the first African-American Congresswoman and first African-American woman candidate for President; Celia Cruz, the world renowned queen of Salsa music; and Colin Powell, the first African-American Secretary of State.
“We work a little bit harder at getting stuff done, because we know where we come from and we don’t want to [go] back,” said Delice.
Since the recent disasters to Haiti, she said that she doesn’t look forward to heading back right now because of the current condition.
As the United States continues to reposture forces in Iraq, the ceremony recognizing Delice will likely be the last one held at Al Faw Palace, but the memories of the event will last forever.
“I thought I was going to cry saying the Pledge of Allegiance,” said Delice, who admitted that she wished she had her citizenship during the Obama campaign so that she could vote. “President Obama came on the screen with a message. I kind of got emotional a little bit and it took a lot not to cry.”
| Date Taken: |
07.08.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
07.10.2011 01:49 |
| Story ID: |
73491 |
| Location: |
JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: |
212 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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