Fourth of July sparkled Monday in a special way for several people in West Palm Beach. On America's 240th birthday, they celebrate their first day of citizenship in the United States.
"It's a big thing for me. I can't explain. Emotion, really big emotion," says Fabio Gonzalez of Uruguay.
Gonzalez met his wife, Rio, in Uruguay five years ago, married her in 2013 in Port Saint Lucie, then followed up on his dream of becoming a US citizen.
"As soon as he could apply he had copies made had a whole folder," says Rio Ratermanis.
After three years, it finally happened on the day Old Glory flies high.
"Anecdotal that they said by the way can I have a Monday that's my only day off I don't want to miss any work and they said how about this Monday and he said that's the Fourth of July," says Ratermanis.
Fabio and ten others from Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, South Africa and Uruguay raised their right hands on Independence Day. A naturalization ceremony at the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach.
"My memories and I love this country so it's an honor for me to become a US citizen."
