Celebrating Immigrant Veterans

Today, the number of foreign-born veterans is 530,000. In fact, one-in-five recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor was an immigrant.

As an organization that loves the foreign-born and seeks to help them adjust to their new homeland through language, literacy, and the love of Christ, HOPE Literacy wants to take time to honor the immigrant veteran on this Veterans Day.

It may come as a surprise to many that one does not have to be an American citizen to serve in the US military. "Naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents, and certain nationals of three countries in free association with the United States—the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau—are eligible for military service," the Migration Policy Institute reports. "In addition, Congress can deem other foreign-born individuals eligible to serve if the secretary of a specific military branch determines that such enlistment is vital to the national interest."

What countries did these immigrant veterans come from? Mexico and the Philippines top the list, followed by Germany, Colombia, the UK, and Guyana.

HOPE literacy celebrates this Veterans Day by celebrating those who have sacrificed much to become Americans and then were willing to sacrifice more to serve their new nation.