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U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq sworn in as American citizens
2008-11-05 04:09:27 (GMT) (Caymanmama.com - News)
Nearly 200 Armed Forces members received their U.S. citizenship on election day while serving in Iraq
Washington, D.C. (CaymanMama.com) — Election day is more than a historic day; it’s a day celebrating freedom and American democracy.
On Tuesday in the spirit of election day, nearly 200 service members received their U.S. citizenship after President Bush signed an Executive Order allowing all Armed Forces active-duty immigrants to apply for citizenship without waiting the standard three years.
Standing under the American flag and dressed in their fatigues, the 186 men and women — who hail from 60 different countries — took their oath of citizenship during a ceremony at Saddam Hussein’s old Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory near the Baghdad airport.
The new American citizens won’t be able to vote in this election between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain since their citizenship came too late to vote on Tuesday, but the honor is there just the same.
“Diverse as your backgrounds may be, you all now have one thing in common: you are all Americans,” the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, said. “You represent the very best of all that our nation stands for: freedom, opportunity, equality and service.”
Each of the new American citizens proudly shook hands with Gen. Odierno and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and then graciously accepted their citizenship certificate along with a folded U.S. flag.
Baghdad born Spc. Rasha Hennessy, from the 1st Higher Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team relished her new citizenship by saying, “Honestly, I can’t even think of how blessed I am to have this privilege. It’s a great thing.”
On behalf of CaymanMama.com, congratulations to all 186 new U.S. citizens!
CaymanMama.com - Press Release Distribution Service
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