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News Specialist Jed Boal reportingThree members of the Utah National Guard became U.S. citizens this morning and will now deploy to potentially fight for their new country.
With the build-up for a potential war in Iraq, these are very patriotic times for many Americans.
They are also patriotic times for foreigners yearning for citizenship.
This morning at the Immigration and Naturalization Service office in Salt Lake City, three foreign nationals took an oath to support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States against all enemies, and became citizens.
A Canadian, a Chilean and a South African are now taking up arms as Americans.
Chevonne Morker, a South African native, says it's an overwhelmning day for her.
After seven years in the U.S., she's achieved her dream of becoming a citizen, and after three years in the National Guard, she's being deployed for the first time.
"It feels fantastic. I'm absolutely thrilled to become a U.S. citizen," Morker says.
Soldiers do not have to be citizens to fight for the United States, but they must be citizens to become officers.
Tonight at 6:30 on Eyewitness News, you'll hear more from the soldiers, and find out how many foreign nationals are ready to fight for the United States.
