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Thirty members of the U.S. armed forces took an oath and became U.S. citizens at a military naturalization ceremony held just ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
High atop the USS Midway Museum, the ceremony Thursday included music from the San Diego Marine Corp Recruit Depot band and included family and friends who gathered to celebrate the country’s newest citizens, many of whom have been waiting years to complete the naturalization process.
Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class, Crystal-Lyn Nguyen, whose family immigrated from the Philippines, reflected on the momentous day with tears in her eyes.
“I feel free,” Nguyen said. “I waited 18 years to finally become a United States citizen. My family went through a lot to get here. I’m actually the first one to get my citizenship.”
Her husband, Mark Nguyen, who also serves in the Navy, attended with their two sons who waved American flags as they watched the ceremony.
“My wife gets to live in this country, be a part of this country, it’s a big deal for her,” he said. “Especially because we serve together.”
Retired Navy Cmdr. David Koontz, the USS Midway Museum’s director of marketing, delivered opening remarks and thanked the soon-to-be U.S. citizens for their service to the United States.
“I have a little bit in common with you folks here this morning,” Koontz said. “Both my wife and my daughter were born outside the United States, so I spent a number of years going through the process. So I’d like to thank you guys for your dedication and your courage to be going through this process and serving in the uniform of a nation that you did not come from.”
The presentation of the candidates for citizenship was given by the acting director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services District 44, Joseph J. Hamilton.
“Today you take that last great step on your immigration journey,” Hamilton said. “Today, you take the Oath of Allegiance, and when you do, the United States of America officially becomes your country, your home, your future. While your service and sacrifice have already made you a part of our nation’s fabric, today you will be fully embraced as one of us.”
Upon hearing their 20 total countries of their origin, including Aruba, Mexico, Cuba, Nigeria and Pakistan, the candidates stood and were asked by the U.S. Chief District Judge Cynthia Bashant to raise their right hand and repeat the oath.
For more than 200 years, the Oath of Allegiance has been the pathway to citizenship for many immigrant Americans. The group declared, in unison, allegiance to the United States and support of the Constitution, by renouncing any allegiance to a foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and was followed by a thunderous applause that echoed throughout the flight deck.
The program included a brief recorded message from President Donald Trump, who welcomed the country’s newest citizens.
Keynote speaker and commanding officer Marine Corps Col. Kwabena K. Gyimah shared his personal journey as a son of parents who immigrated from Ghana and congratulated the troops.
“You have proven your commitment through service, sacrifice and selflessness,” Gyimah said. “Few Americans fully grasp the weight of the uniform you chose to wear. Even fewer understand the depth of what you have given. For immigrant service members, these sacrifices carry extra meaning and challenges. You have overcome barriers of language, culture and distance to proudly serve along with your fellow Americans. … It is only fitting that we honor your story.”
After receiving their certificates declaring official citizenship of the United States, the 30 service members were embraced by family and friends.
Marine Cpl. Romno Khun, originally from Burma, said he’d been waiting six years for this day. His wife, Dot Khun, attended the ceremony and only had a few words to say about her husband receiving his citizenship.
“I’m very proud of him,” she said smiling.
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