Pfc. Xao Moua, Master Sgt. Kevin John Stohr and Pfc. Marco Antonio Valle Salazar wave flags and listen to Lee Greenwood’s "God Bless the U.S.A." at the conclusion of their naturalization ceremony. Photo by Daniela Vestal.
Bliss Soldiers become citizens
Daniela Vestal, Monitor Staff
Three Fort Bliss Soldiers were among the more than 900 people who became U.S. citizens in a ceremony Friday at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security works to expedite all military applications and get the entire procedure done within 30 days. Barring an emergency situation such as a deployment, the El Paso office tries to schedule servicemembers’ Oath of Allegiance to be taken at large ceremonies.
“To me it’s more special to do a ceremony with a thousand people than it is to do a ceremony with one,” said James Spurling, adjudications officer, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “I’m a retired sergeant major (and) we have several officers in our office that are retired military or have some type of military (tie), so we all love taking care of Soldiers.”
Pfc. Xao Moua, originally from Laos, has served in the Army for one and half years and was able to take advantage of the services offered to military members.
“It was pretty nice being that we were in the Army, they made it really easy,” Moua said. “They help you out with most of the paperwork and the time process (is) shorter. Compared to what my family went through for theirs, it’s a whole lot simpler.”
“The strength of the United States is its diversity, so that’s why you are important ingredients to what makes this country so proud and so strong,” guest speaker Mayor John Cook told the crowd of new citizens. “It’s our diversity that makes us a proud nation; it’s our diversity that makes us ultimately strong.”
Cook went on to stress the importance of the new citizens participating in their government by educating themselves and voting. His words especially rang true for Pfc. Marco Antonio Valle Salazar, originally from Mexico.
After being in the U.S. for seven years and the Army for almost two, Salazar “definitely” became a citizen so he could vote.
The third servicemember to swear allegiance Friday was Master Sgt. Kevin John Stohr. Originally from Australia, he has served in the Army for 25 years and became a citizen so he could continue serving in different positions.
When asked why he, Moua and Valle would choose to serve the U.S as Soldiers and ultimately become citizens, Stohr said it was because they “love it.”
Moua and Valle readily agreed.