On July 4, the city of Mesa is preparing to both celebrate Independence Day festivities and embrace the country’s melting pot ethos by welcoming approximately 100 new U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony. The event, part of the Arizona Celebration of Freedom, is the result of an ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and will be hosted at the Mesa Convention Center, with the Oath of Allegiance to be administered by USCIS Phoenix Field Office Section Chief Cynthia Yanez.
Local dignitaries, Mayor John Giles and Councilmember Jenn Duff are slated to attend, reaffirming Mesa’s commitment to the ideals of freedom and democracy these ceremonies represent, and according to a statement from the city's press release on June 12th, the ceremony is meant to underscore the significance of this patriotic holiday for residents new and old. Since 2015, Mesa has included the naturalization ceremony in its Independence Day celebrations which both honors the nation’s history and its newest members, the event this year will continue that tradition in the spirit of unity and celebration.
"We were looking at other activities to add to the Arizona Celebration of Freedom and adding the naturalization ceremony on Independence Day was a natural fit for the event and our organization," said Walt Zimmerman of the Sertoma Club, the service organization that first hatched the idea and has been a driving force behind the celebration. Zimmerman, who will lead the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance during the ceremony, is quoted expressing this sentiment in the city's official communication.
The Sertoma Club manages other patriotic events as part of the celebration, including the Hall of Flags display and the distribution of pocket-size copies of the U.S. Constitution courtesy of Hillsdale College, this outreach is designed to educate and inspire a sense of civic pride among attendees. Boasting live music, family activities, and a fireworks showcase, the Arizona Celebration of Freedom opens its doors from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Mesa Convention Center and Mesa Amphitheatre, and further event details are available here.
