Posted on 11/16/2006 1:11:18 AM PST by FreedomCalls
FRANKFURT, Germany — Clutching a framed photograph of her smiling husband and choking back tears, Salina Jimenez accepted a naturalization certificate Tuesday.
But the certificate wasn’t hers.
It belonged to her husband, Sgt. David Jimenez Almazan, a 27-year-old combat medic, who died Aug. 27 in a roadside blast in Iraq’s Anbar province.
“This is something we were both looking forward to,” said the 26-year-old Jimenez as she held the certificate after a naturalization ceremony Tuesday at the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt.
“His American dream was to give back to the country that gave him so much freedom.”
It goes without saying that he gave all he could.
More than 22,500 servicemembers have been naturalized since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, but only a handful received citizenship after dying in combat.
Almazan, who was a member of the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, was the 84th, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It’s safe to say that his is a rare case.
“I’ve got to tell you, this is the first time I’ve ever done this,” said Emilio T. Gonzales, director of USCIS, as he prepared to present Jimenez with her husband’s citizenship.
A few rows ahead of Jimenez, 29 U.S. servicemembers sat waiting to receive their citizenship as well.
Gonzales, himself an Army veteran and a naturalized U.S. citizen, told the troops they were going to be asked to repeat an oath that might seem a little trite. It will ask you to bear arms on behalf of the United States, he said. “You’ve done that.”
Pfc. Guo Chen, 22, hasn’t deployed yet, but the weight of the sacrifice he might have to make wasn’t lost on him. Hearing Almazan’s story brought those risks home, but he loves being a U.S. soldier, he said.
“It’s really kind of a proud job,” said Chen, who moved to the U.S. from China less than two years ago.
Almazan had deeper U.S. roots. He moved to California from Mexico when he was 11, and spent most of his life in the San Fernando Valley. But it wasn’t until about the time he enlisted that he began to look into how to become a U.S. citizen, Jimenez said. “In his heart, he always was one.”
Almazan turned in the paperwork for his citizenship months ago, but his death left the process in limbo. It was up to his wife to push it to its end. Doing so was a no-brainer.
“I had to do it,” she said.
She smiled as she clasped her husband’s photograph and naturalization certificate in front of her.
“We had a long life ahead of us, which I’m looking forward to spending in his name and his honor.”
Photo credit: Matt Millham / S&S
Caption: "At a naturalization ceremony in Frankfurt, Germany on Tuesday, Salina Jimenez clutches a photograph of her husband, Sgt. David Jimenez Almazan, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq on Aug. 27. Almazan, born in Mexico, was posthumously granted U.S. citizenship. Jimenez accepted her husband’s naturalization certificate."
Ditto.
Sad...And may I add..He wasn't an Illegal...
Not if he sacrifices his life in service to United States...
Ok, just to be clear that's your (and my own) opinion, not necessarily a legal fact. If you have info that says otherwise, then post it.
Here's the only other article I could find.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-almazan15oct15,1,5004090.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california
God Bless him and his family.
A person can be a resident alien without being a US Citizen. That doesn't mean the person is an illegal. It means they are a green card holder who has not gone through the naturalization process.
Where did you read that he was a resident alien? Chances are he didn't have his papers. Some do, some don't. I know a boy, who happens to have US citizenship, grew up in Ecuador, and came back to serve in the army this year. I don't understand it, but I certainly respect it. People assume he is an illegal because he doesn't speak English well. Those people can get ugly. Fortunately he has a strong character and doesn't let it get to him. I resent all the anymosity towards "illegals". The ones I know are more decent than some "US citizens" who were born and bred here.
That sounds good until taqiyya raises its ugly head...
Yes, they should!
That's the way I see it. No need for formalities, though the formalities we see are very nice.
taqiyya ?
I believe that is a small corn tortilla, filled with meat and spices and fried. Quite Delicious!
Lying to the enemy of islam. Lying is a central tenet of their faith.
In this case, to swear to defend the U.S. Constitution then go nuts using U.S. weaponry on U.S. troops. I don't know that we ought to give citizenship merely because someone goes into government service, no matter how noble the motive.
Mega Dittos. May God bless his family, and my heartfelt thanks for the sacrifice he made for his country.
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