Twenty-four people became U.S. citizens, six of them had military connections.

For 23-year-old Sandeep Singh, Monday marked a new start, a turning point. "I was already part of the army and now I'm actually a citizen of this country. It's an honor," he said.

An honor that came only after a long journey. Singh was born in India and raised in New York city, near the World Trade Center. Despite his lack of citizenship, he joined the Army after 9/11."I was angered," Singh said, "I wanted to do something about it and this way, this was all I could do."

But something was missing. That was why Singh and 23 others, from around the world, came to the National Mall, to be sworn in as a U.S. citizens.

Sharon Brennan, a former British Citizen, said she became an EMT to fulfill her life, " I want to help people in their hour of need."

For the new citizens, it was a new beginning. Each, with their individual hopes and dreams. Six members of the group were military, all deeply affected by 9/11. "I saw that actually from my high school. You could see the two towers burning," said U.S. Navy Sailor, Sergio Rivassorto. 

Rivassorto joined the Navy soon after 9/11. Originally from El Salvador, he was one of 60,000 immigrants in the U.S. military. "It does shock a lot of people, once you are in active duty, as a non-citizen," he said.

In recent years, the laws changed. Military members, like Singh, who speak English, with no criminal records, could take the citizenship oath in less than three years.

"Growing up, I always wanted to wear the uniform, be part of something bigger than myself," said Singh, "It's just a great country. I love it."

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