CITIZENSHIP

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Apr 3, 2003

Marine Cpl. Jose Angel Garibay, 21, of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, 22, of Lomita, Calif., were killed in Iraq. No matter that the United States wasn't their official homeland; they were determined that one day it would be.

That day came Wednesday.

With the help of their families and fellow Marines, Garibay and Gutierrez became American citizens posthumously. The acting director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services signed the papers without fanfare.