DEPSEC Remy remarks at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

On Nov. 10, VA Deputy Secretary Donald Remy spoke the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Here is that speech.

[Acknowledging Elizabeth MacMillan, director Smithsonian National Museum of American History]: Thank you for enabling us to come together at this magnificent venue, and for your management of this incredible museum—truly, a national treasure. Chris Mendez, Supervisory Immigration Services Officer, Washington Field Office, and fellow Army Veteran—thanks to you and those in your office for making this event a reality; and, Brigadier General Stephen Michael [U.S. Army (Ret.)]. Congratulations on your award! So well deserved. More importantly, thank you for your distinguished service to our nation and for your leadership of America’s soldiers during very tough times. You are, indeed, an outstanding American—by choice!

And last, but most importantly, to all of those who took the Oath of Allegiance today, to your families and your friends—this ceremony is about you.

You know, tomorrow is Veterans Day, the day our country pauses to remember and recognize those people who fought our nation’s wars and defended us during periods of restless peace, those who protected, sometimes at the cost of their very lives, the ideals of our democracy.

Millions of Veterans fought and risked life and limb to preserve our nation and those ideals America represents—freedom of speech, freedom to gather together as we are today, freedom to worship as we choose, freedom to pursue our most fervent dreams, and freedom to seek opportunity and to achieve as we see fit.

Not just for some Americans, but for all Americans, of every background, color, creed, and persuasion.

That is what has made us a beacon of hope for others around the world.

Perhaps some of you who became citizens today were drawn by that bright beacon.

But as you become citizens, it’s important to remember that those ideals and opportunities are not guaranteed.

They are not automatic.

They will not endure without a nation of people, of caring citizens, who value those ideals and who act in order to preserve, protect and nurture them.

They will not endure without people like you.

To those who took the oath today, as much or more than any other single group, you have both the potential and great responsibility to shape our country’s future and keep the United States a world leader—to keep the beacon bright.

As some of our newest citizens, you must help answer the immense challenges we face today and those we’ll face in the years and decades to come:

I’m talking about social inequality, poverty, unemployment, the evils of racism and misogyny. I’m talking about threats external and internal—pandemics like the one we’re still suffering from, climate change, cybersecurity, educating future generations, providing meaningful jobs, access to internet and health care for every American.

Addressing those issues is now your job. Keeping the beacon lit is now up to you.

And immigrants have been doing exactly that for as long as America has existed!

Because they bring with them vast and diverse experiences, leadership, ingenuity and a spirit of innovation, their wildest dreams and greatest hopes for a better tomorrow for themselves and, more importantly, for their children.

For centuries, immigrants have profoundly and positively made an impact on this nation.

That’s one reason President Biden is fighting for historic investments that will improve our immigration system.

Because we need—and should value—the contributions that generations of immigrant Americans have made to our country.

And look, there is no area of American life where those contributions been greater than the military.

Among the countless immigrants who have served our nation honorably, 700 immigrants have earned our Nation’s highest award for valor—the Medal of Honor.

Fully 20 percent of all Medal of Honor recipients—from the American Civil War to Iraq and Afghanistan—were immigrants. Amazing.

And I’ve learned that 29 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services facilities are, in fact, named for some of those recipients, including their headquarters conference center in Camp Springs, Maryland, the Tomich Center, named in honor of Peter Tomich.

Tomich was an ethnic Croat from Herzegovina who immigrated to the U.S. in 1913.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1917, serving during WW I, and in 1919 enlisted in the U.S. Navy. By 1941, he’d been promoted to Chief Watertender serving on the USS Utah—at Pearl Harbor.

During the Japanese attack, the Utah was torpedoed. Tomich, realizing the ship was capsizing, voluntarily stayed at his post, securing the boilers and allowing all other fireroom personnel to escape—giving his life so others might live.

So, to our new citizens, those of you serving in the military, and those who are not, you follow in the path of heroes… heroes like Chief Tomich.

Heroes like General Michael, who today received the Outstanding American by Choice Award.

And now that you’re all citizens, I ask you to help carry on their legacy by doing your part to keep America’s freedoms alive.

That doesn’t mean doing what Chief Tomich did, or what General Michael did—it just means finding your own way to give back to this nation that gives so much to us.

I am extremely honored to be a part of this special day, and I wish all of you great success in your future endeavors—and a great Veterans Day.

All of you who took the Oath of Allegiance today are Americans by Choice—something to take immense pride in. And I take immense pride in being here to help celebrate.

God bless you, our nation’s Veterans, those currently serving in uniform, and all of their families, caregivers and survivors.

Thank you.