America's North Shore Journal

Amid a sea of other service members also taking the Oath of Citizenship, 2nd Lt. Memorina Edwin Barnes (center), executive officer, Headquarters Service Battery, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, takes the last major step toward becoming a U.S. citizen, March 3, at al-Faw Palace. Barnes who is a native of Pohnpei, an island which is part of the Federated States of Micronesia, claims Kaneohe, Hawaii as her hometown. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp

During the 13th naturalization ceremony conducted in Iraq, 251 Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from 65 different countries became American citizens in the rotunda of the Al Faw Palace March 3. The youngest participant was 19 and the oldest was 45.

The servicemembers, from places such as Micronesia, Vietnam and Columbia, were welcomed into the American fold on foreign soil where they’re defending the principles of their new home country.

“American citizenship means that we each commit ourselves to our community, to our state and to our country,” said Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commanding general, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. “It means that we participate in improving the quality of our society. It means exercising rights, respecting other’s rights and defending our own rights.”

Although the candidates have already been living in the United States and serving in its military, there is still a great deal to gain by becoming an American.

“We identify ourselves as ‘American’,” Austin said, “but, what does it mean to carry the title ‘American’?”

“It’s a blessing,” said Spc. Rosemarie Narvaez, Company B, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, and originally from the Philippines. “I get the right to vote which is something I’ve looked forward to doing.”

John Lafferty, district director for the United States Citizen and Immigration Service, based out of Rome, Italy, presents the certificate of U.S. citizenship to 2nd Lt. Memorina Edwin Barnes, executive officer for Headquarters Service Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, March 3 at a ceremony held in al-Faw Palace. Barnes, who immigrated to Kaneohe, Hawaii from the Federated States of Micronesia, said she felt overwhelmed and grateful to receive her citizenship; fighting back tears during the ceremony.

“I’m glad I call America home,” said Spc. Daley Bornsztejn, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, and Australian by birth. “It’s great to be part of something bigger than yourself.”

The American hopefuls all overcame obstacles before beginning their quest for citizenship. From civil wars to famine to leaving loved ones behind, each of the newly naturalized servicemembers had to fight to get where they are today.

“It [citizenship] means something different for each person,” Austin said. For these men and women it depends on their individual journeys to this point. It depends on what they endured along the way.”

One new citizen, Spc. Regis Uwizeye from Rwanda, came to America as a refugee from the country’s civil wars, which claimed both his parents. Other countries he tried fleeing to, such as Congo and Kenya, were involved in civil war or civil unrest of their own. He applied for a program to bring refugees to America and was selected. Since then, America has offered a safe haven for Uwizeye.

“In America, I can sleep at night and I know the government won’t change overnight because of a military coup,” said Uwizeye, who is part of Troop B, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.

The safety and future America represents give Uwizeye and other new citizens a strong sense of allegiance to their new homeland and a sense of responsibility to properly represent it.

“We [Americans] have to stand up to the challenge of being the strongest country in the world,” Uwizeye said.

MNF-I