Some 200 soldiers, sailors and Marines will be celebrating Independence day for the first time as U.S. citizens aboard the USS Midway on Friday.
Many of them have already been serving the country for many years as lawful permanent residents in the U.S. military. The group will be taking the Oath of Allegiance after going through a streamlined process for naturalization.
They will be sworn in on the same flight deck as 225-thousand veterans served during the ship's 47-year career.
Thirty-three countries will be represented at this special ceremony.
Organizers transformed the Midway flight deck for the occasion
This ceremony is part of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services annual celebration of Independence Day.
Citizenship means they men and women will be able to reunite family in the U.S., if they qualify. They can now obtain citizenship for children born abroad and travel outside the U.S. freely
Nearly 2,300 candidates will become citizens at approximately 30 special ceremonies held across the country and around the world from June 29 to July 4.
