Naturalization for military families
Groton — Aileen Gavilanes, 5, left, and her sister Amy, 7, wave U.S. flags handed to them for a special annual naturalization ceremony for local members of the military and their families to become citizens of the United States, on Friday at the Submarine Force Library and Museum and Historic Ship Nautilus.
Yessenia Gavilanes, originally from Ecuador and married to U.S. Marine 1st Sgt. Juan Gavilanes, was among the new citizens.
The special event commemorated Military Appreciation Month, Armed Forces Day (May 20), and Memorial Day (May 29). Sixteen new citizens from 12 countries took their oath of citizenship in the ceremony presided over by Hon. Judge Warren Eginton of the U.S. District Court of Connecticut.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.