Vienna Naturalization Ceremony Planned During Liberty Amendments Month

VIENNA, VA — For hundreds of years, naturalization ceremonies have been held, where people take the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens. Vienna will host one of these naturalization ceremonies for the first time ever Saturday amid its Liberty Amendments Month celebration.

At 5 p.m. on Saturday, 15 people will take the oath during a ceremony on the Vienna Town Green at 144 Maple Avenue E. The candidates for naturalization come from different countries, from Canada to Congo. Representatives from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will administer the oath.

"I’m so glad we were able to coordinate this event and time it for Liberty Amendments Month," said Lily Widman, Parks and Recreation event coordinator for the Town of Vienna. "Through this ceremony, we get to be a witness to history as people take the same Oath of Allegiance that has been administered for generations. It also gives us a chance to reflect on what makes our country so special."

Liberty Amendments Month from June 18 to July 19 celebrates four Constitutional amendments that gave rights to those who had been excluded from the Constitution. The week of June 26 to July 2 celebrates the 14th Amendment, which affirms the rights of anyone born or naturalized in the U.S. as a citizen and granted citizenship to Black people.

The naturalization ceremony is part of a Liberty Amendments Month mini-fest Saturday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Town Green. The ceremony will include Jordyn Jones of Vienna Youth Players singing the National Anthem, Girl Scout Troops 50157 and 1489 presenting the colors, Mayor Linda Colbert welcoming the citizens, and Director of U.S. National Intelligence Avril Haines giving the keynote address.

To become a U.S. citizen, candidates must go through a 10-step process once they've had a green card for at least five years or three years if married to a U.S. citizen and meet various requirements. New citizens will gain full voting rights and other rights given to Americans born in the U.S.

"Our homeland is such a big part of our identity, yet, for hundreds of years people from other countries who admire our way of life in the United States have taken the necessary steps to go through the process, which is not easy, and their journey is truly inspiring," said Widman.

See more information about Liberty Amendments Month and its events on the town's website.