43 naturalized at Yellowstone

Forty-three immigrants from all corners of the globe were naturalized Wednesday morning at an outdoor ceremony in Yellowstone National Park.

BYU-Idaho student Matthew Howden said he came to America from South Africa at the age of 8 and has always dreamed of becoming a U.S. citizen.

“It’s pretty awesome to be here at a national park in America getting my U.S. citizenship. I couldn’t think of a better place to get it,” said Howden.

“I knew that life here — the quality of life here — was so much better,” said Corryn Bass, Howden’s mother, who described how the family fled the turmoil in their homeland 16 years ago.

Mexican-born Lucia Gomez, who now lives in Idaho Falls, said she initially came to the U.S. for economic reasons.

“I live all my life in this country and I wanted to be a citizen,” said Gomez.

Some immigrants came to cement families.

“I married my husband. He’s a U.S. citizen,” said Joanne Lohman, who moved to Jackson from the Philippines 14 years ago.

“When he asked my dad if he could marry me, my dad said one of the requirements was he had to be a citizen,” said Addison Howden of her husband, Matthew.

Not only did Howden become a citizen Wednesday, but he also celebrated his 24th birthday.