Soldier’S Lasting Gift To His Parents Their Us Citizenship

[Call me bubba]

.Army Specialist Rudolph “Ryan” Hizon, 21, died last February in Afghanistan from wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device (IED).He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, among other awards. But the most important award he received was US citizenship, given posthumously. Ryan Hizon was born in Manila, Philippines. At the age of 17, he came to the US with his father, Rodolfo, a brother Russell and sister Rochelle after a decade on the immigration waiting list. The family left behind mother Rachel because she and Rodolfo never married. According to the Times, Ryan surprised his family when he decided to enlist in the Army.“It was an odd fit, and not just because he wasn’t yet a citizen,” wrote Kurt Streeter of the LA Times. “Ryan was quiet and slight, a fun-loving practical joker, true, but also an introspective kid who cried easily and hardly had an aggressive bone in his body. He’d never touched a gun, never talked of hurting anyone, never mentioned anything about joining any nation’s army.”He told family members that the military would give him focus but in reality, he enlisted in the Army so his mother could join the rest of the family in the US.“Ryan knew that by joining the Army during wartime he could hasten US approval of his citizenship. Then he could sponsor Rachel, speeding her immigration,” wrote Streeter.Rachel Santiago, Ryan’s mother, said she knew what he was doing and urged him not to enlist.“When he finally was deployed, I told him, ‘Amboy, come home. Don’t go.’” Santiago told the Times.Earlier this year in March, the family received the bad news when two soldiers arrived at Rodolfo’s home.Ryan was dead at 22. “It was like a terrible dream,” Rodolfo told the Times. “Losing my son? How could this be?”Afterwards, Rodolfo learned that the government granted his son Ryan US citizenship posthumously and immigration officials allowed Ryan’s mother to visit America for his burial.“And then, finally, how an official brought Rachel and Rodolfo to her office and gave them bittersweet news: Since Ryan had died at war, his parents could now become citizens without more than a few months’ wait,” wrote Streeter. During the family’s naturalization ceremony, Ryan’s story of sacrifice was highlighted.The judge told those being naturalized, “His life reminds us of the opportunities and the responsibilities of citizenship. Today, Ryan’s parents become citizens. They become part of the fabric of a nation that has been enriched by immigrants who bring with them a new energy, sacrifice and commitment to America.”Ryan’s parents then raised their hands to their hearts and pledged loyalty to their adopted nation, wrote Streeter. http://www.asianjour...itizenship.html http://projects.lati...udolph-r-hizon/

[Candyman]

What a bitter/sweet story ! Thanks for sharing !