New Citizens Sworn in at NAS Lemoore

LEMOORE, Calif. (NNS) -- Twelve Sailors from Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore became U.S. citizens Jan. 12 during a naturalization ceremony.

"We're a nation of immigrants and that's what America is all about," said Susan Curda, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) District 22 director. "I encourage all immigrants to serve in their communities and you've gone out and done that on your own by committing your lives to serving a country that's not yours yet."

Curda delivered her remarks before Sailors took the Oath of Allegiance."

"It's surprising and inspiring that someone who's not a citizen of this country would join the Navy to defend democracy," said NAS Lemoore Commanding Officer Capt. James R. Knapp. "Your dedication makes me want to be a better citizen and Sailor."

The ceremony ended with the new citizen-Sailors leading the audience in reciting the "Pledge of Allegiance."

A Strike Fighter Squadron 151 Sailor, formerly a Brazilian citizen, said he's proud to be an American.

"America is the greatest nation on Earth. Why wouldn't I want to be a part of it?" said Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Bernardus Mendes Gunnewegh.

In addition to Brazil, NAS Lemoore's newest U.S. citizens originally hailed from Mexico, Colombia, Russia, Republic of the Philippines, Malaysia and Macedonia

According to the USCIS Web site, service members and certain veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to apply to become a citizen of the United States under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. USCIS streamlines the application and naturalization process for current members of the military and those who were recently discharged. USCIS has naturalized 53,497 members of the U.S. Armed Forces since September 2001.

For more information about the immigration process, visit the website: www.uscis.gov/