naturalization ceremony – Martha Beyreuther and about 150 other new citizens took the oath at George Washington’s former home in Mount Vernon, Virginia, marking America’s 250th birthday as families, officials, and supporters filled the heat despite demanding personal journeys to citize
Hand over heart, Martha Beyreuther stood in the historic grounds of George Washington’s former home in Mount Vernon, Virginia, on America’s 250th birthday, her excitement impossible to miss as she took the oath of allegiance.
Beyreuther, 35, immigrated from Germany as a live-in maid 16 years ago. For her, July 4 was “perfect.” She met her husband, Mohammed Barrie, in Washington, DC, 13 years ago, and the couple married in 2018.
“It’s amazing,” Barrie said. “I’m really proud of her – of all the adversities she’s overcome to get here,” he continued. “She started off as an au pair, went to school, paid out-of-state tuition and finally she’s able to work as a senior (manager) at Amazon. It’s amazing.”
Beyreuther was one of 150 people naturalized during the annual ceremony hosted at Mount Vernon in Northern Virginia. The record-breaking heat in Virginia didn’t keep hundreds of family members, friends and onlookers away.
At the ceremony, Mount Vernon CEO Douglas Bradburn, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services were among those taking part.
Bradburn reflected on the Founding Fathers’ moment of choice. saying they “renounced their foreign allegiance and pledged themselves to one another.” He added that “We are all here today together because of that choice a quarter of a millennium ago. That’s incredibly powerful… that human beings can freely choose to come together to try to make the world a better. more just place.”.
For Renee Padilla, the day carried its own weight of effort and time. He immigrated from El Salvador with his mom, sister and stepfather when he was 16. He studied daily for six months before taking the citizenship test in April, and he is now 22 and a U.S. citizen.
Smita Sharma attended with her father, Manohar Sharma, to support her mother, who was the person becoming a citizen. Sharma described the moment as both exciting and hard to fully believe. saying. “My upbringing is way different from my parents. My mom grew up in Nepal and walked to school and came from I can’t even imagine where to now. This is a part of her story and I’m sure it’s something she also can’t imagine happening.”.
David Do, a translator from Vietnam, was naturalized with his daughter years ago. Watching his wife become a citizen again came with a different kind of honor for him.
“I also feel very inspired to (see my wife) become American this day,” Do said. “I feel proud. and also I feel like I have to do something to contribute to this country.” He said the date also marked progress from the refugee crisis stemming from the Vietnam War. adding: “Now. we don’t come through as the ‘boat people.’”.
Speakers encouraged the new citizens to register to vote, underscoring that “living in our democratic republic is not a spectator sport.”
Inside the crowd, young visitors and longtime residents connected the ceremony to the American ideal of access. Kathleen List, a 20-year-old Georgetown University student, said she came with family friends who attend the event annually, calling it “the best way to celebrate America.”
Marci Phillips, 55, of Mount Vernon, said she was glad to see people still reaching for the citizenship dream despite “all the challenges.” She added that the country needs to “recognize that there are other people that can also contribute to our society… and we have to make space for them as well.”
The speeches, the heat, and the personal journeys all converged on the same moment: the public choice to belong, made in front of family and friends at a site where America’s founding story began.
Mount Vernon U.S. citizenship naturalization ceremony America’s 250th birthday USCIS immigration voting registration Amazon Martha Beyreuther Mohammed Barrie