Retired soldier among group honored at naturalization ceremony

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A man born in the Dominican Republic joined the Army following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Today, more than 14 years later, that man is now an American citizen.

Francisco Benito Polanco Delarosa was one of 14 citizens from 11 different countries honored aboard USS North Carolina. Delarosa, a retired E-5 sergeant with the US Army, came to the country when he was just two years old.

“Well it’s taken me a long time, I must admit. I’m 42 years old,” Delarosa said. “When I had the opportunity to do it, I just went for it. So today is like a very, very special day for me.”

He enlisted in the Army when he felt this country needed him most.

“It was shortly after 9/11,” Delarosa said. “It was just a patriotic thing to do at the time and here I am.”

He said he was always serving the stars and stripes, even before gaining citizenship.

“In my heart, in my mind, I was a US citizen,” Delarosa said. “I was raised up in the United States. So joining the military was kind of like the right thing to do at the time. And I’m glad that I did.”

Now Delarosa can celebrate his full rights as an American.

“This is a great country,” he said. “I try to tell people that I talk to, don’t take this country for granted, because once you go to these Third World countries, you’ll see that this is the place to be.”

According to US Citizenship and Immigration, in 2014 about 11,000 folks were naturalized in North Carolina. About 200 of those were members of the armed forces.