President Barack Obama recognized today the contributions of many service members who are not yet citizens of this great country. During a ceremony at the White House, Obama remarked about how these individuals have contributed to the greatness of this country.
For more than two centuries, this nation has been a beacon of hope and opportunity — a place that has drawn enterprising men and women from around the world who have sought to build a life as good as their talents and their hard work would allow. And generation after generation of immigrants have come to these shores because they believe that in America all things are possible.
So you are not only living examples of that promise; you’re also serving to defend that promise for future generations. And your service reminds all of us that much of the strength of this country is drawn from those who have chosen to call it home. It’s not lost on me or anybody here today that at a time when we face an economic crisis born in many ways of irresponsibility, there are those who are actively pursuing greater responsibility.
Soldiers in attendance hailed from virtually every continent. They all came to the United for a better life, a more secure and safe one.
After the naturalization ceremony, the president presented “Outstanding American by Choice” Award to Peter Lemon. The award is given by the President on behalf of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Obama gave the following narrative just prior to presenting the award to Mr. Lemon:
Peter was just 19 years old, and a citizen for just seven years, when he and his platoon came under fire in the Tay Ninh Province of Vietnam.
Wounded by shrapnel from a mortar that exploded near his foxhole, Specialist Lemon kept fighting to protect his position against wave after wave of attack. The battle raged for hours. He was wounded a second time, and then a third. But he refused to give up, even leaving his foxhole and exposed himself to enemy fire in order to continue to defend his fellow Rangers.
In fact, once the fight was over, Specialist Lemon refused to be evacuated until others had been taken to a field hospital. And Pete would spend a month in the hospital himself to recover from his injuries. Soon after he returned home, he would be presented with the Medal of Honor by President Nixon.
Today, Peter Lemon is a proud father and a proud veteran — as well as an author and a filmmaker. And he has devoted his time and energies to talking about what his own experiences have meant to him and what he has learned — to encourage each and every one of us that the way to make the most of our talents is to make a difference in the lives of others.
His experience is a testament to the men and women who have come to this country to build a better life for themselves and their families — and who have, by their commitment and contribution, made America a much better place as well.
So it is my honor to present this “Outstanding American by Choice” Award to Peter Lemon.
Our troops who are working towards citizenship and have served this country honorably in combat deserve to be pushed to the front of the line. It was good to see the President honoring our veterans in this way.
