Gates Attends Naturalization Ceremony

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • U.S. Navy Seaman John Zamora leads the Pledge of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony, where Zamora and 30 other military members became U.S. citizens in the Pentagon courtyard, Sept. 10, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess
  • Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano administers the oath of allegiance to 31 immigrant military service personnel representing 20 different countries of origin, during a naturalization ceremony held, Sept. 10, 2009, in the center courtyard of the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, seated right with Alejandro Mayorkas, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, addressed the new citizens, family members and guests, expressing their pride in the determination and patriotism of the new U.S. citizens. DoD photo by R. D. Ward
  • Thirty-one U.S. military members take the oath of office before friends and family during a U.S. military naturalization ceremony in the Pentagon courtyard, Sept. 10, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess
  • Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano makes remarks during a U.S. military naturalization ceremony, where 31 military members became U.S. citizens before family and friends in the Pentagon courtyard, Sept. 10, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess
  • Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates makes remarks during a U.S. military naturalization ceremony, where 31 military members became U.S. citizens before family and friends in the Pentagon courtyard, Sept. 10, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess
  • Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, left, and Alejandro Mayorkas, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, watch as 31 immigrant U.S. military personnel take the oath of allegiance from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano at the Pentagon courtyard, Sept. 10, 2009. DoD photo by R. D. Ward
  • From left to right, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Alejandro Mayorkas, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigrration Service, congratulate one of 31 immigrant U.S. military personnel who took the oath of office in the Pentagon courtyard, Sept. 10, 2009. The new U.S. citizens represented all branches of the service and 20 different countries of origin. DoD photo by R. D. Ward
  • A U.S. Army soldier born in Vietnam and with 30 other immigrant U.S. military personnel representing 20 different countries of origin each receive a U.S. citizenship certificate in the Pentagon Courtyard, Sept. 10, 2009. DoD photo by R. D. Ward
  • U.S. Marine Sgt. Tikonblah Dargbeh poses with fiancee Ashley Smalls, left, and mother Martha Dargbeh, right, after a naturalization ceremony at the Pentagon, where she became a U.S. citizen Sept. 10, 2009. DoD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly Burgess