Former service members become U.S. citizens

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Some military service members took America's most important oath at Stone Mountain to become U.S. citizens.

Of the six people who became American citizens, five are former U.S. service members. The sixth person is the spouse of an active-duty military member.

Josh Taylor came to the U.S. from London as a young child and joined the Air National Guard out of high school.

"It was my path to citizenship. I felt I was giving something to the country for getting citizenship as a result," Taylor said.

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Andres Marie Rose came to the U.S. from Panama and served in the army during the first Gulf War.

Rose says it's special becoming a citizen near the holiday on which American's honor those who have sacrificed for his new home.

"It's more of a special occasion to do it on this weekend than any other," Rose said.

The new citizens say they're happy to exercise their right to vote in this year's presidential election.

Cox Media Group