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New US citizens after taking the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Mount Vernon, Virginia, US, on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Photographer: Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images

One hundred fifty people from 50 nations gathered Saturday at the home of the United States’ first president to celebrate not only the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding but also their first day as American citizens. 

Big picture view:

The scores of new U.S. citizens were joined by their loved ones at Mount Vernon, under the hot sun and with red, white, and blue paddle fans to cool them, for the special ceremony. Among them were individuals who have already served their new country, people who came from countries torn apart by violence, and others who fled from persecution. 

Timeline:

To get to that Virginia home, they all navigated the long citizenship process: from tests and interviews to green cards and biometrics. Now, they were being welcomed by Anne Neal Petri, the regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, and after a speech about George Washington came the National Anthem.

Soon, another speaker asked them to stand when they heard their country being called and to remain standing. As the countries were being read, they stood up. Some of them were smiling; some had a calmer expression. At least one thrust his fist in the air, only to have a young boy look up at him, smile, and thrust into the air his fist – a fist that clenched an American flag.

All of them standing, they raised their hands and recited the Oath of Allegiance. At that point came the words, “Congratulations. You just became U.S. citizens.”

What they’re saying:

After America’s newest citizens were sworn in, the historian Douglas Bradburn took the stage and pointed out a nearby tulip poplar tree. It was planted at Washington’s request and has stood for 250 years, witnessing America’s stories. Bradburn then told those assembled:

“All the stories that are part of you, now become American stories. When people ask me what are American people like, I now can talk about you, and your stories.”

The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.