Mount Vernon swore in 150 people from 50 countries as U.S. citizens on July 4, marking the nation’s 250th birthday on George Washington’s estate.
The new citizens had completed the naturalization process — including tests, interviews, green cards and biometrics — before taking the Oath of Allegiance in a ceremony tied to the country’s founding.
George Washington’s home provided the event’s symbolism, with historian Douglas Bradburn telling participants their stories now become American stories and a Washington re-enactor welcoming them as “my fellow Americans.”
Among those naturalized was U.S. Marine Sgt. Diakaria Sangare of Guinea, a veteran of two deployments, who said afterward: “I just became a United States citizen.”
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150 New Citizens, 50 Countries: Mount Vernon’s Semiquincentennial Naturalization Ceremony on America’s 250th Birthday
Overview
On July 4, 2026, America’s 250th birthday was celebrated with a special naturalization ceremony at George Washington’s historic Mount Vernon estate. Despite record-breaking heat, hundreds of people gathered as 150 individuals from 50 countries took the oath of allegiance to become U.S. citizens. The event was filled with emotional moments, such as new citizens standing when their countries were called and joyful gestures shared between adults and children. Key speeches by prominent figures and a re-enactor portraying George Washington added historical significance, connecting the new citizens to the nation’s founding ideals and making the ceremony a central part of the Semiquincentennial celebrations.