The United States Army
08/07/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/07/2024 03:54
USAG Bavaria welcomes 18 new citizens to US citizenship
TOWER BARRACKS, Germany - As part of a special program to naturalize active-duty service members and their Families, U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted a naturalization ceremony July 25 at the Tower View Conference Center, welcoming 18 new citizens of the United States.
The citizens naturalized at the ceremony originally come from 10 different countries: Haiti, China, Germany, Australia, Peru, American Samoa, Palau, Kenya, Ghana, Colombia, Nepal and the Dominican Republic.
Following the national anthem, the Oath of Allegiance was virtually conducted by a representative with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
"Today, you become a part of something great - America," Poole said. "And today, America becomes greater and more complete because of you."
The ceremony concluded with the garrison commander distributing certificates of naturalization to America's newest citizens.
Pfc. Abdul Salam with the 15th Engineer Battalion, originally from Ghana, was very thankful.
"I'm going to thank God almighty for bringing me this far and thank my parents for bringing me this far," said. "Without them, I wouldn't have been here. It's just a great day."
Sgt. 1st Class Titi Kaisa Jr., a Soldier with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, is from American Samoa. He drove from his duty station in Hohenfels to attend the ceremony.
"Today is a very important day because now I become a U.S. citizen," Kaisa said. "Not only for me but for my family."
Muriel Rose Frye, originally from Australia, started her process to become a U.S. citizen in 2018.
"I'm the first American in my family," said Frye. "It was a very big day, and it was very exciting, and I am very, very proud to be a new American.
"It was a very moving event just to see so many new Americans from all over the world," she added.
The ceremony was concluded with the youngest and oldest new citizens, Spc. Sebastian de Aaron Gesto Pena from Peru and Kaisa cutting the cake together with garrison commander Col. Kevin A. Poole.
To view the livestream of the event, visit the USAG Bavaria Facebook Page here.
View additional photos of the event at the link here.
Here's a list of all the newly naturalized U.S. citizens:
- Victoria Jaques Annie Bazin - Haiti
- Sulan Feng - China
- Sandra Friend - Germany
- Muriel Rose Frye - Australia
- Reyad Hizli - Germany
- Rodrigo Chavez Ibarcena - Peru
- Titi Kaisa Jr. - American Samoa
- Lawrence Douglas Mechaet - Palau
- Caroline Wairimu Wanjiru Mungai - Kenya
- Anne Pauli - Germany
- Sebastian de Aaron Gesto Pena - Peru
- Abdul Salam Issahak Rahman - Ghana
- Marina Fernanda Smoak - Germay
- Norman Andres Romero Suarez - Colombia
- Shyam Timilsina - Nepal
- Jhoangel Pena Torres - Dominican Republic
- Gabriela Anna Twigg - Germany
- Maria Fernanda Ceron Umana - Colombia