"She Was a Young American" Topic

I don't usually post personal stuff, but after eleven years (and three beautiful babies), my sweet wife swore an oath of allegiance to the United States and became a naturalized citizen today.

She didn't have to, it didn't make one bit of difference to me, but it was something she wanted to do. I assisted her with the paperwork (years of paperwork, beginning with the fiancé visa, up through conditional permanent resident, to permanent resident, to citizen) and she worked hard to become proficient in English and learn our way of governing (easily passing the tests for both).

It was a very nice ceremony in Dallas, Texas, with 110 applicants from 36 different countries. I had the good fortune to move about after the ceremony to speak with some of the new US citizens, including a young lady from Iraq, a couple from Liberia, a South Korean couple, several Vietnamese, and some folks from Pakistan.

I'm very proud of her, and so I thought I'd share.

V/R,
Jack

Congratulations to you and your wife! I love the naturalization ceremonies of swearing in new citizens of the United States! I have attended two myself: one for my wife in 1998, and my mother-in-law in 2008, and both ceremonies were impressive and instilled pride in all of us attending. Again, congratulations and welcome to a new citizen of the United States of America!

- Scott

Congratulations.

Congratulations to your wife (and to you also).

My Heartiest Congratulations!

Except for Native Americans, we're all from immigrant stock here and I'm glad that she thought enough of us to become a Citizen!

Warmest congratulations to both of you, Jack!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to you and your wife. Welcome to the club.

Well Done! Proud to have her

Congratulations to the both of you!

Beautiful sentiments. Grats!

Been there, done that with my dear Wife, Olga. It took the better part of three years (one lost because of INS's dedication to making the process as opaque and self-contradictory as possible), but she wanted it from Day One in America, and I did, too.

And unlike so many born here, Olga Alexandrovna Pavlenkova, takes her citizenship (almost 20 years now) seriously: She votes in every election, she worries about America's recent declines on several fronts, and has no sympathy for those overseas--and at home--who denigrate the whole simply because they can.

Damn straight, I'm proud of her. She has, by her devotion to the work ethic, respect for our laws, and love of new country, proved an asset to it, as well as to everyone she knows or has worked with. She is a much beloved Christian woman, and a friend to everyone she meets. Wherever she goes, it's a better place for her just being here.

As Just Jack and Buck215 know at least as well as I do, those who CHOOSE America are not merely welcome, but greatly to be valued, and we can take a lot more of them.

Congratulations indeed, Sir!

TVAG

Congrats. That is no small feat.

A very wonderful thing she has done. A true American, not only by her effort and citizenship, but a true American in her heart also!

Congratulations! Remember when someone called Ayn Rand a foreigner? She said "I CHOSE to become an American and worked at it. How'd you become one?"

Congratulations mate.

Tell her I said hi :)

Congrats from Collin County!

At my wife's swearing in as a US citizen there was a contingent of a dozen soldiers in the audience complete with a unit guidon. When a soldier in full dress uniform among those to be sworn in name was called and he stood to take the oath his comrades stood with a shout. He was from Romania. An already moving ceremony became quite emotional for everyone present. Many thanks to "Just Jack" for raising this subject and to all who posted their own stories.

Hey, wow, thanks everyone, the wife and I really appreciate all the kind words and sentiments. We're both very happy and proud of her achievement.

V/R,
Jack

Well done, another nice American! You can never have enough!

That is wonderful Jack!!!

Congratulations and welcome! My wife is a naturalized citizen, so was my mother, and so are some of my closest friends.

Congratulations to your wife, Just Jack, and to you as well!

I too will always remember the day my wife took the oath of allegiance to our country, alongside several hundred fellow naturalized citizens in the Brooklyn courthouse. As is often said about religious converts, in my experience "adopted" Americans value their citizenship and all that comes with it more highly than many of us who were born and raised here.

I wish you & your wife all the best!

Congrats to you both!

Congrats!

Congratulations to your wife and welcome to the Greatest Nation on God's Green Earth. My father was naturalized as a child when his parents came from England and he was always proud of that.

Congratulations! and a belated welcome to her.

Ron

Congratulations to you and your wife! Thank you for sharing your story!

But--does she remember President Nixon?

Congratulations!

Every year on July 4th our capitol holds a swearing-in
ceremony for new citizens.

For years I attended those as did many other 'native'
citizens, at the invitation of the jurist doing the
ceremony, to welcome the new citizens and TO THANK THEM
FOR THEIR CHOICE.

TVAG, Jack, Hocklermp, Guru, Buck and Oberlindes -
please extend my thanks to your loved ones who CHOSE
US as their countrymen. Congratulations on their
effort and I sure hope we are always worthy of their
choice.

Hafen, we weren't going to tell anyone about Nixon, were we?

Actually, I can remember finding out they were going to replace Eisenhower. I couldn't see why. And eleven Presidents later, it still looks as though we should have quit while we were ahead.

Thanks again everyone!

And Hafen: sorry man, neither of us is old enough to remember Nixon (in office) ;)

V/R,
Jack

Oh. I thought you were referencing this:

youtu.be/ydLcs4VrjZQ

That's OK--congrats anyway!

I was, they were still playing that in the 80s ;)

V/R,
Jack

Just when I have you pegged you go and do something all decent, wholesome and exceptionally good :)

Congratulations to you and your wife and thank you for sharing this with your TMP kin.

And Hafen: sorry man, neither of us is old enough to remember Nixon (in office) ;)

I think you've probably realized it already but the reference is to the lyric in the song "Do you remember, your President Nixon?"

BTW I didn't realize you posted this and would have skipped over this but it is one of my favourite Bowie songs :)

Really delighted for your whole family Jack! Its a real day to celebrate :)

We're proud of you Brother

Jack:

Congratulations to your wife, yourself and your family on achieving this happy milestone in your lives. I wish you all health, happiness and great opportunity for the future.

Will the next milestone be getting her to wargame with you?

Cheers.
Rod Robertson.

Wonderful! This is the true American dream.

Thanks guys, and yes John, I know about the lyric, I was just making a joke about us not being as old as Rod ;)

V/R,
Jack

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Congratulations from a fellow Texan – always heartening to hear the stories of people who want to be Americans and take it seriously (and with some pride)!