Rockland naturalization ceremony includes volunteer firefighter
A Rockland County Naturalization ceremony held Friday at the Fire Training Center in Pomona included 100 new U.S. citizens from 33 different countries. One man has already been serving his community.
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A Rockland County naturalization ceremony was held Friday at the Fire Training Center in Pomona.
It included 100 new U.S. citizens from 33 different countries.
One man has already been serving his community.
“Today is a big step for me, ya know?” said Oscar Bolanos who left El Salvador in 1998 to join his family in Rockland as a teen.
Now, at 42 years old, he’s officially become an American but has already spent the last three years serving his community as a volunteer firefighter with the Sparkill-Palisades fire department.
"Lot of things that I am looking forward to,” said Bolanos. “Being part of the community and keep looking forward to serve."
County Executive Ed Day gave Bolanos a shout out during the event, too.
Bolanos fellow firefighters were there to show their support.
"Oscar is a true asset to the community in every sense of the word,” said James Gallagher, with the Sparkill-Palisades fire department and ladder company chauffer.
"Oscar contributes so much to this department. Not only as a volunteer fire fighter but as a guy you can count on,” said Josh Panter, with the Sparkill-Palisades fire department.
They say he’s even helped build training props, cook and more.
Bolanos ended his News 12 interview by thanking everyone and saying, “God bless America.”
