Naturalization ceremony at the White House
May 2, 2009
Servicemembers take the oath of citizenship during a naturalization ceremony at the White House on Friday. The new citizens, representing all five services and 18 countries, were sworn in by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and welcomed as "fellow Americans" by President Barack Obama. (Click on image to see story. )
Here are some extra shots:
President Obama delivers the keynote address.
"You’ve not merely chosen to live in this country. You’ve chosen to serve this country," he said.
President Obama greets the new citizens after the ceremony.
President Obama presents Peter Lemon with the Outstanding American by Choice award, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. Lemon, formerly a Canadian citizen, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1971 for his heroic actions in Vietnam.
