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President To Preside Over Armed Forces Naturalization Ceremony

Update:  View video of the ceremony here.
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President Obama will deliver remarks at a naturalization ceremony for 24 members of the United States Armed Forces. This ceremony recognizes the contributions made by immigrant members of the U.S. armed forces who have earned their American citizenship through service to our country, and the contributions immigrants from all walks of life have made to our country throughout its history.

Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the Department of Homeland Security, will present the home countries of the candidates for citizenship, and Secretary Janet Napolitano will administer the oath of citizenship.

President Obama will then present Sergeant Ledum Ndaanee, U.S. Marine Corps (E-5) with the Outstanding American by Choice recognition, which highlights the outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens.

Service men and women being honored include:

Michael Zach Armstrong, U.S. Army, England; Lenard Canlas Belvis, U.S. Air Force Reserve, Philippines;Tei Aristide Bislao, U.S. Navy, Togo; Anthony Cabalerro, U.S. Navy, Spain; Maria-Antonette Capio Cabantog, U.S. Air Force, Philippines; Perla Conception Ramos de Chavira, U.S. Navy, Mexico; Rommel Cruz Cuenco, U.S. Navy, Philippines; Affeya Tiffany Christine Grant, U.S. Navy, Guyana; Therica Tameica Hutchinson (Sergeant), U.S. Army, Jamaica; Oscar Gaspar Manrique, (Senior Airman) U.S. Air Force; Granger Lawrence Michael, (Corporal, E-4) U.S. Marine Corps, Papua New Guinea; Roosevelt Joseph, (E4, Corpsman) U.S. Navy, Haiti; Raquel De Olivera Moura, (E-4 as an Aviation Structural Mechanic) U.S. Navy, Brazil;  James Nyaga Muchoki, (E-4 radiology technologist) U.S. Army, Kenya;
Jerdaine Devon Oldacre, (E-1) U.S. Navy, Jamaica; Soraya Conceicao Ross, (Combat Engineer) U.S. Marine Corps, Brazil;  Charlyston Schultz, (Captain) U.S. Marine Corps, Brazil; Raul Pagaduan Sibayan, ( E-4 in maintenance) U.S. Army, Philippines; Andrew Hopeton Smith, (E-3 as a Unit Supply Specialist) U.S. Army, Jamaica; Marcin Dominik Staniszewski, (E-3) U.S. Marine Corps, Poland
Berhan Kifetew Teferi, (E3 PFCU.S.) Army, Ethiopia: Pitrianne Natoya Williams, (Aviation Mechanist, AM-3) U.S. Navy, Jamaica.

The president performed a similar ceremony last year.

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