Newest Americans

This is from Lisa, who did a terrific job organizing the immigration ceremony that took place at the Museum last week. It was truly one of the most moving things I've experienced since working at the Museum—and that says a lot. After the ceremony, we invited the new citizens to tour the Museum, especially the Voices of Liberty installation in the Keeping History Center.



Last Thursday, the Museum had the great honor of hosting a citizenship ceremony for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. There were 127 citizen candidates—men and women who ranged in age from 19 to 78 and hailed from 47 countries. It was an incredibly moving experience to see the joy in these people’s faces as they accepted the rights and responsibilities of becoming an American citizen. Hearing the roll call of their countries of origin and then followed by their individual names, you couldn’t help but be proud of the strength and richness of America’s diversity, and that we have more in common than in difference.

Three men in the armed services were among those receiving their citizenship, including Specialist Phong Nguyen who originally comes from Vietnam and is pictured here. After the ceremony, he chose to have a friend take his picture while he stood in front of the Museum’s distinguished menorah. For me, this picture captures the essence of this very special event, the collective pride everyone felt, and the unique mosaic that is America. (Thank you for sharing this photo, Specialist Nguyen.)

Click here to read our Director's remarks on this important occasion.