NARA Commemorates Constitution Day 2024 with Naturalization Ceremony
By Kristen Albrittain | National Archives News
WASHINGTON, September 20, 2024 — On September 17, the National Archives held its annual Constitution Day naturalization ceremony in the National Archives Rotunda.
Twenty-four candidates from 24 nations were sworn in as new U.S. citizens in front of the Constitution and our nation’s other founding documents. The new citizens’ countries of origin include Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Cameroon, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Serbia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.
The Honorable Judge Randolph D. Moss, District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, presided and administered the Oath of Allegiance.
Following the oath and the Pledge of Allegiance, 20 students from Alice Deal Middle School recited the Preamble to the Constitution.
Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen J. Shogan then welcomed the new citizens, saying,
“The expansion of rights to all Americans is possible because our Constitution empowers citizens to work together to create a more perfect union. And now as an American citizen, you are joining our ongoing democratic experiment. Our Constitution and the institutions it established relies on each of us to do our part. Please remember that as you pursue your happiness as an American.”
“Here at the National Archives, we are certainly striving to fulfill our mission of strengthening democracy. We do so by preserving, protecting, and sharing our nation’s records. But these records are not just pieces of paper, they are tools to hold our government accountable and to inform us as we work together to establish that more perfect union. So let’s continue together to honor our Constitution and to make our contribution to the American story.”
Following her remarks, Dr. Shogan welcomed keynote speaker Gary Vaynerchuk, whose family immigrated to the United States from Belarus in 1978. Known as “Gary Vee,” he is a prolific entrepreneur, author, and media influencer.
In his address, Vaynerchuk said, “As I built my journey in this incredible country, I have the luxury of having the gift of gab and so I’ve done plenty of speaking, but I say this from the bottom of my heart: this may truly be one of the most monumental moments of my speaking career. To welcome people into this incredible country is a tremendous honor.”
Luigi Enrique Della Giustina Roeder, a new citizen originally from Venezuela, said his favorite part of the day was hearing dignitaries speaking about the positive aspects of being an American and what it meant to be an American. “A lot of us come from different backgrounds, different stories, and it just truly resonates with the core values that we bring over, that we see ourselves as united and we are all together,” he said.
The full ceremony can be viewed on the National Archives YouTube channel.