Suheyla Ates’ grandchildren smiled Thursday as they snapped a photo of the 62-year-old woman taking her oath of allegiance after arriving in the United States 18 years earlier.
“I love this country,” said Ates, who came from Turkey. “I want to be one of them.”
Ates’ daughters married members of the military and all her grandchildren are American citizens.
“I can’t believe I finally did it,” she said. “It’s wonderful. It’s freedom.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.