Courtesy San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum
Posted on 11/12/2005 7:38:10 AM PST by radar101
SAN DIEGO – When they boarded the aircraft carrier Midway in their dress uniforms Friday morning, they were 111 soldiers, sailors and Marines who traced their roots back to 48 homelands. By the time they left, they were 111 Americans – naturalized in a one-hour ceremony aboard the floating museum at Navy Pier.
With family and friends looking on, they stood to take the oath, then filed one-by-one onto the stage to receive the certificates that declared them officially citizens of the United States.
Many taking that oath had already served in the Persian Gulf, some of them several times. At least one had a Purple Heart from wounds received in battle.
The largest groups taking the oath Friday were from the Philippines and Mexico. Eleven of the 111 new citizens have requested to change their names to reflect their new citizenship.
Since 2002, when the citizenship process was streamlined for foreign nationals serving in the U.S. armed forces during wartime, more than 800 servicemen and women have been naturalized in San Diego, said Capt. Townsend Alexander, commander of the Coronado Naval Base.
Two of the sailors in Friday's ceremony were from Alexander's command.
It was the second time the ceremony for foreign-born U.S. military had been held aboard the Midway, and Navy officials held open the possibility that it could become an annual event.
Greg Gross: (619) 293-1889; greg.gross@uniontrib.com
(Excerpt) Read more at signonsandiego.com ...
I doubt these folks would readily embrace the party that hates their service to this country.
Midway Magic... (CV41)
Welcome, new citizens. Glad to have you aboard.
The last time we were at the Midway, before it actually opened as a museum, we were standing in the park. A man introduced an older gentlemen, whose name I unfortunately cannot remember, who had served aboard the Midway during World War II. The gentleman was not strong, but he regaled us with accounts, both funny and sad, about his experiences and the experiences of his shipmates. I am not certain he is still alive, but it was one of the most poignant times of my life hearing about an aspect of our American military heritage.
It makes me doubly proud of these young Marines, soldiers and sailors to take their oaths in a place that is replete with traditions of power and bravery.
They did exactly that at my mass naturalization (1968, Santa Ana, CA). When I registered, they were downright miffed that I insisted on registering as unaffiliated.
Ping! Know you wouldn't want to miss this!
Thanks my friend
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