QUINCY, IL — For many of us, U.S. citizenship comes with birth.
Our rights given to us simply by the location in which we are born.
Everyone help me in congratulating Kostantinos Papazoglou in becoming a new U.S. citizen! Story tonight at 6 on KHQA.
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For immigrants, the path towards U.S. citizenship is much more difficult and can be paved with obstacles.
However, one local restaurant owner is now celebrating after becoming a U.S. citizen.
After spending decades as an immigrant in the U.S., Konstantinos Papazoglou, the co-owner of Greek to Me recently became a citizen in Springfield last week.
"This is my American birth certificate, put it that way. This is what I struggled for. Everything's right here in this piece of paper," said Papazoglou.
He and his mother and father traveled to this country decades ago.
"This is the family picture, this is my father, my mother, and that's me an infant, nine months old. We came to the states back in 1972," said Papazoglou.
His mother would become a U.S. citizen in the late 1990's, he initially did not pursue becoming a citizen.
"Initially, green cards did not have an expatriation date, so most people didn't rush into becoming a U.S. Citizen, it's good you know, I didn't have to," said Papazoglou.
Local political leaders were in attendance at last week's event.
"(U.S. Senator) Tammy Duckworth was there, got to meet her in person. Very impressive person, she said her personal story of being born in Bangkok, Thailand she didn't come to this country until eight years old and didn't know any English," said Papazoglou.
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