Hasan Jasim literally put his life on the line for this country.   The day in 2020 when he officially became an American citizen was one that he treasures. 

Growing up in Iraq, he looks back fondly at his simple life as a young boy, but that experience changed dramatically with the onset of several wars in his country.  The days of living under the regime of Saddam Hussein brought great hardship for civilians and he soon learned the impact of not having freedom.  Getting an education as an English teacher was his ticket to having a few more options and he quickly volunteered to help the US Army as an interpreter despite significant personal risk to him and his family. 

Hasan shares the story of his journey from his Middle East hometown in a desert climate to Maine, a drastically different state he had never heard of before.   He now understands why Maine is such a great place to live.  “I will not leave Maine. I will stay here.” Hasan, his wife and two children, now feel like they belong here.