On the Fourth of July there are naturalization ceremonies at Monticello.

[Yonnie3]

I took a moment today to look at today's ceremony and read about the history.

50 years of naturalization ceremonies at Monticello

July 4, 2012, marked the 50th annual naturalization ceremony held at Monticello. Since 1963, more than 3,000 people from every corner of the globe have taken the oath of citizenship at the annual Monticello Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony. These individuals come from far and wide, each with their own unique story about their path to citizenship.

Like each naturalized citizen, each featured speaker at Monticello's July 4th celebration comes bearing his or her own unique story. From presidential visits and speeches from famous Americans such as Sam Waterston, I.M. Pei and General Colin Powell, to moving tales of triumph from national figures such as Robert Goizueta, Vartan Gregorian and Madeleine Albright -- once newly minted citizens themselves -- each speech remains a stirring reminder of the value of American citizenship. These are truly American stories.

Below are some of the sights and stirring remarks of 50 years of Naturalization Ceremonies at Monticello.
<snip>

Much more at https://www.monticello.org/site/visit/50-years-naturalization-ceremonies-monticello



Some photos of today's ceremony in this tweet along with a plug for the local news, can't have one without the other.

Link to tweet

[heaven05]

1. that photo was posted by

a MAGA fool and his statement are a perfect example of trumps amerika. Also this 'naturalization' breakdown and the numbers racially, culturally I will have to search out.

Link to tweet

/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1014491533532434432&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2F10815402

[Nitram]

4. I'm sorry, heaven, which photo are you referring to?

[heaven05]

7. yep

the photo in OP by henry graff...if you click on photo his Facebook stuff comes up and he's a MAGA fool. I can't deal with people that praise trump and his encouragement of hate and white supremacy.

[Nitram]

2. My wife became a US citizen at the Monticello ceremony 5 years ago today.

Dave Matthews was the speaker, and he was brilliant. He is a naturalized citizen from South Africa. It is not attended by thousands of guests. More like a few hundred.

[Yonnie3]

3. Did she want to have the ceremony there?

I don't know how immigrants are paired with their ceremony. I would think Monticello would be a desirable location.

Congratulations to your wife.

[Nitram]

5. Yes, she applied to have it there. Attendance is limited. We live not far from Monticello.

[Yonnie3]

6. Me too, since '68

Hello neighbor.

My memory is terrible so we may have already done this.

[Nitram]

8. Mine is poor as well. We live about 20 minutes southwest of Charlottesville on Taylor's Gap Road.

Howdy!

[Yonnie3]

9. I have a place northwest of the airport in the hills

It is under eternal renovation.

I spend a lot of time at a house in Belmont area. Not far from what is called The Hogwaller.