Living the Dream

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class John D. Strong II
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The United States of America is known as the home of the brave, land of the free, and people travel from countries around the world to come live out their own American dream. A naturalization ceremony recently held in El Paso, Texas, recognized the newest American citizens to begin that journey. Some of them were from Holloman.

At 11a.m. July 3 more than 1500 applicants were granted U.S. citizenship in a ceremony at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.

The convention center transformed to a federal court room for the ceremony with the honorable Philip R. Martinez, United States District judge residing over the ceremony. The ceremony was the largest in the history of the El Paso field office.

The applicants were from 54 different countries among them were Algeria, Bangladesh, Canada, Cuba, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

Amongst the applicants were 26 service members, 23 from the Army, two from the Air Force and one from the Navy.

The two Air Force members gaining U.S. citizenship were Airman 1st Class Karla Jimenez of the 49th Civil Engineering Squadron and Airman 1st Class Marco Romero of the 49th Force Support Squadron.

"I was one and a half years old when I first moved to Bronx, New York from the Dominican Republic. I then moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and got my residency when I was a senior in high school," said Airman Jimenez. "Joining the military really helped my process in becoming a citizen and it feels good to finally have it done," she said.

The process was just as rewarding, but a lot shorter for Airman Romero.

"It was 1993 when I moved to Miami, Florida from Honduras and it has taken roughly five months for me to get my citizenship," said Airman Romero. "It's a privilege and honor to be apart of this great country and it's a good feeling to see a goal and to achieve it, the American Dream."