Key facts
- 150 individuals from 50 countries became U.S. citizens.
- The naturalization ceremony took place at Mount Vernon.
- The event coincided with America's 250th birthday.
- A George Washington re-enactor delivered a welcome speech.
On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 150 individuals from 50 nations took their Oath of Allegiance at Mount Vernon, officially becoming U.S. citizens. The ceremony included speeches and the Pledge of Allegiance, with a George Washington re-enactor welcoming the new citizens.
The event marks a significant milestone for the new citizens, symbolizing their integration into the United States on a pivotal anniversary of the nation's founding. It highlights the ongoing process of immigration and the diverse paths individuals take to become American.
On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 150 individuals from 50 countries were sworn in as United States citizens at George Washington's estate in Mount Vernon, Virginia.
The ceremony, held on the historic lawn, saw new citizens from diverse backgrounds, including U.S. Marine Sgt. Diakaria Sangare from Guinea, who attended in his military uniform. Many had undergone extensive processes including tests, interviews, and biometrics, with some fleeing persecution or violence in their home countries.
Following speeches, including one from historian Douglas Bradburn who emphasized the merging of personal stories with American history, a re-enactor portraying George Washington welcomed the new citizens, stating, "The name of ‘American’ belongs to you every bit as much as it does to me." The event included the singing of the national anthem and the recitation of the Oath of Allegiance and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sgt. Sangare expressed his emotion after the ceremony, stating, "I just became a United States citizen."
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