Proud to be American

For two, local residents, May 13 marked the end of a journey as they became citizens of the United States through a Naturalization Ceremony.

Anicia Dombret is originally from Columbia. She came to the United States after marrying her husband, who was a Columbian member of the U.S. Air Force. Her journey started March 2, 2004, the day after her wedding and the same day her husband deployed overseas for one year with the Air Force. A year later he returned and, with her Visa, they entered the United States.

“My first year here was really hard … Everything was new,” Dombret said. “It was hard for me in the beginning because I did not understand any word.”

She knew little-to-no English, could not drive and didn’t know how to use things such as a washing machine or dryer. Dombret came from an area where they had to go days without water and when it was available, they had to fill up tanks so that they would have enough to cook with, wash their clothes and take showers in.

For more on this story, see the June 2 edition of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.