{"id":318084,"date":"2024-11-04T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=318084"},"modified":"2024-11-06T05:05:36","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T05:05:36","slug":"usag-bavaria-welcomes-newest-american-citizens-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=318084","title":{"rendered":"USAG Bavaria welcomes newest American citizens"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n As part of a special program to naturalize active-duty service members and their Families, 27 new citizens hailing from 14 different countries were welcomed as citizens of the United States during a naturalization ceremony Oct. 31, 2024 at the Tower View Conference Center.
\n (Photo Credit: Paula Edwards)<\/span>
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\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
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TOWER BARRACKS, Germany \u2014 As part of a special program to naturalize active-duty service members and their Families, 27 new citizens hailing from 14 different countries were welcomed as citizens of the United States during a naturalization ceremony Oct. 31, 2024 at the Tower View Conference Center.<\/p>\n

Following the national anthem performed by Karissa Musket, the \u201cOath of Allegiance\u201d was virtually conducted by Maria Trevizo-Ramirez, a representative with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.<\/p>\n

The citizens naturalized at the ceremony originally came from El Salvador, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Colombia, South Korea, Philippines, Germany, Ecuador, Mexico, Russia, Vietnam, Cote D\u2019Ivoire and Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n

The ceremony concluded with deputy to the garrison commander Dwayne Key distributing certificates of naturalization to America\u2019s newest citizens.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, the history of our great nation, the very identity of the United States changes for the better as we add the names, the families, the stories of 27 new Americans to the long and distinguished list of those who have completed the journey to American Citizenship,\u201d said Key.<\/p>\n

The newly naturalized citizens consisted of 13 service members and 14 civilians.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that many of you made the choice to do this on top of being a part of the Armed Forces, whether you are a servicemember or a family member, and not your own places of national origin makes today even more special,\u201d Key said. \u201cI am so grateful, so honored to be here and witness this moment in your lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jose Andres Donis Arana with the 15th Engineer Battalion has been waiting for this day since he joined the Army.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel really proud to be called an American citizen now,\u201d Arana said. \u201cAnd I’m so impressed of how many good things that happened to me in a very short period.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something I was really looking to,\u201d continued Arana. \u201cI feel so happy, so thankful for this nation, for all the opportunities that it has given me. I think that being part of the army is one of the ways to say thank you for all the benefits, opportunities and help that has given to me in all these years.\u201d<\/p>\n

He has the following advice for people who are considering the naturalization process:<\/p>\n

\u201cJoining the Army is a really good opportunity, not only because of the benefits, also because it will make you grow as a person,\u201d said Arana. \u201cThey find you a better way \u2026 will make you, like, explore your limits. And definitely the citizenship is one of the benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ceremony concluded with the youngest participant, Quang Huy Vo from Vietnam, cutting the cake with Key.<\/p>\n

To view the live stream of the event, visit https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/USAGBavaria\/videos\/1193775075032818<\/p>\n

View additional photos of the event at the link here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a list of all the newly naturalized U.S. citizens:<\/p>\n