Photo By Staff Sgt. Sidnie Smith-Swift | A US flag being held during the naturalization ceremony at the Army Community Services...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo. – The Fort Carson Army Community Services held a naturalization ceremony on Sep. 20, with eight people officially becoming US Citizens.
The new U.S. citizens came from seven different countries: China, Iraq, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Russia, South Korea and Thailand.
The six Soldiers and two family members were surrounded by family, friends and their units during the ceremony.
Sgt. 1st Class Judith Beltowski , an Attack Helicopter Repairer assigned to 6th Attack Reconnaissance Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, came to the ceremony in support of her Soldier, Pfc. Beatrice Kungu.
“It just makes me so proud,” said Beltowski. “I love that the strength of the military is our diversity, just as the strength of our country is our diversity. To serve in the military without getting the full rights of citizenship, the full opportunity to really participate in that prosperity, just shows how selfless they are. It’s just amazing.”
After the ceremony, the new US citizens were given a chance to speak. Pfc. Visarut Niamet, a medical logistic specialist assigned to 418th Medical Logistics Company, 627th Hospital Center, expressed his gratitude and the day’s importance to him.
“Thank you all so much,” Niamet said with tears in his eyes and his voice cracking with emotion. “This means so much to me. It’s been a long time coming.”
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, in fiscal year 2018, over 756,000 people were naturalized; 4,135 of which were military service members.
For Spc. Amjed Al Saadi, a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, said that he started his citizenship process in 2017, but had issues and had to restart the process. It didn’t deter him from wanting to become a US Citizen.
“I am so happy now to have my citizenship finally,” Al Saadi said.
The Fort Carson ACS has had over 100 Soldiers and family members naturalized at ceremonies this year.
| Date Taken: | 09.20.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.01.2019 16:52 |
| Story ID: | 344768 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Hometown: | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, ‘With liberty and justice for all’ Fort Carson welcomes 8 new US citizens, by SSG Sidnie Smith-Swift, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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