Your Late Afternoon Moment of American Pride

There are times when we are occasionally embarrassed to be from this great country. When George Bush goes to Europe and sticks his foot in his mouth. The continued success of According to Jim while Arrested Development is long gone.

But when our faith in America is shaken, we can now claim David Ortiz as one of our own. The Dominican-born slugger officially became an American citizen in a ceremony this afternoon.

Remove your caps, ladies and gentlemen.

Ortiz was one of 227 immigrants who raised their right hands and took the Oath of Citizenship at the John F. Kennedy Library in Dorchester. The cast he has worn since partially tearing a tendon in his left hand did not stop him from clutching a small American flag as he spoke to a crush of reporters after the ceremony.

“My whole family, kids, and everyone have been born here,” Ortiz said. “It’s a great country, proud to be here, now proud to be a part of it.”

There’s also the added bonus of not getting “crushed in taxes,” eh, Papi?

And check out the picture that accompanies Boston.com’s report. America just got way more fly, and we have Ortiz to thank.