A war hero from Bethesda, Maryland, was honored Monday at a ceremony where hundreds of people became American citizens.
Retired U.S. Army Capt. Florent Groberg was recognized as an Outstanding American by Choice. Groberg saved soldiers lives when he tackled a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in August 2012.
In Alexandria on Monday, 165 people from 43 countries participated in a naturalization ceremony lead by Groberg.
"I was being given a gift. Becoming an American was something that changed my life," he said. Groberg was born in France and became a U.S. citizen in 2001, the same year he graduated from Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda.
President Barack Obama gave Groberg the Medal of Honor in 2015.
"I think of myself as an American, an American soldier that did his job," Groberg said.
The Outstanding Americans by Choice initiative from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recognizes outstanding achievements by naturalized U.S. citizens.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
"Through civic participation, professional achievement and responsible citizenship, recipients of this honor have demonstrated their commitment to this country and to the common civic values that unite us as Americans," USCIS' website says.
This was his message for new Americans: "Cherish this moment, because this is the greatest country in the world.This is an honor."
