Airman takes next step toward her American dream

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
  • Air Force News Agency
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) --  One Airman's version of the American dream includes some children and a bakery of her own. It is a dream Airman 1st Class Olga Bilobol now has as a brand-new American citizen following a Nov. 6 naturalization ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base.

"It means so much to me that I have a hard time explaining my feelings," Airman Bilobol said, "When I got up to cross that stage, I felt taller. I just felt so different."

The ceremony, which for immigrants is the last step in the process of becoming an American citizen, took place in the Air Force Thunderbirds' Air Demonstration Squadron hangar. A total of 33 people, military members representing each military service, were granted their citizenship during the ceremony. The ceremony is one of the Heritage to Horizons events Nellis AFB officials are hosting in celebration of the Air Force's 60th Anniversary.

Ceremonies of this type are usually held in a courthouse, but for an hour the hangar ceased to be a place of aviation and became a court of law.

Judge Lloyd George, a district judge for the District of Nevada, presided over the event. Coincidentally, an aircraft hangar was not an alien place for the judge. A former B-47 Stratojet pilot, Judge George said he felt especially honored to be a part of the event.

"This country was built on immigration and the diversity we have here really pleases me," he said. "These young people have already learned about service through their time in the military. They will be great citizens and I wish I could follow each of them as they go through their lives."

Airman Bilobol was picked to speak at the event. It was a task that she was able to accomplish in spite of some misty eyes.

"When I got up there I just wanted to cry," she said "I had a speech planned out, but I ended up just speaking from my heart."

The 24-year-old Airman emigrated from the Ukraine with her family 10 years ago. Her family settled in Cleveland and Airman Bilobol said she still remembers her first impressions of her new home.

"It was just so green," she said. "Everybody dressed so nice and were so friendly. I felt like I was dreaming."

There were challenges for the Airman in her new country. She did not know how to say even common words in English and needed to start in school immediately. She overcame the obstacles and graduated from high school. A few years later she joined the Air Force and she now works in the travel management office at Nellis AFB. She credited the Air Force for making her stronger.

"I love the Air Force," she said. "It has made me a lot more mature and opened a lot of doors for me."

She is now working toward a college degree in culinary arts. It is the next step in achieving her goal of owning a bakery.

On her first day of citizenship, she said she realizes something about the elusive American dream that many people don't. It is an ideal that is not given freely and must be earned through hard work and perseverance.

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