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Hundreds gathered at the Virginia home of the first U.S. president for a special naturalization ceremony, with one of the most famous action stars welcoming the new citizens with open arms.
One hundred people from 95 countries became U.S. citizens Friday at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Movie star and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the keynote speaker, bringing cheers from the crowd after he was introduced.
Before the ceremony, Schwarzenegger placed a wreath, with a ribbon that read “America’s First Action Hero. Love, Arnold” inside George Washington’s tomb. He called the moment “an honor.”
“We’re here to recognize what you have overcome, what you have achieved,” Schwarzenegger said. “To recognize the responsibilities that are still in front of you.”
Schwarzenegger became a U.S. citizen in 1983. “The Terminator” actor said he spent the day with an American flag wrapped around his shoulders.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Schwarzenegger said. “I kept saying to myself, ‘Arnold, you have a new home.’”
After reciting the oath of allegiance, the new Americans read aloud the Pledge of Allegiance, letting out a big cheer and waving American flags in celebration.
The new Americans
Randa Alakkad made the U.S. her home after moving from Syria to study cybersecurity in 2013.
Once war broke out in the Middle Eastern country, she applied for asylum. Now, she works as a cybersecurity analyst “fighting bad guys, bad hackers” ever since.
Alakkad wore a special Uncle Sam-style hat with a U.S. flag popping out that her sister had made for her to celebrate the big day.
“This is where I belong, and this country has become my country now,” Alakkad said. “That’s how I’ve been feeling, even before the citizenship.”
Verna Guadeloupe, of Arlington, came to the U.S. from Jamaica nine years ago.
“It’s wonderful,” Guadeloupe said. “And for it to happen on this day, it’s historic for me.”
During Friday’s ceremony, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service officials called for the new citizens to register to vote.
Jean Frantz, of Haiti, said the main reason he became a citizen was to vote and to “participate in the democracy here.”
Kamilla Giliazova has lived in the U.S. for 15 years after leaving Russia. She said patriotism for her is “supporting the morals and ethics of the United States and living by the law of the United States.”
Schwarzenegger addressed his view of patriotism during his speech, calling on the new citizens to continue showing their hard work ethic while making a difference in their communities going forward.
He said that they didn’t need to “run for governor as I did,” but they can help buy groceries for a homebound neighbor or help at a bake sale.
“Action is what got you here,” Schwarzenegger said. “You wanted something more, so you went after it. You worked hard, you struggled ,and you persevered.”
The Fourth of July is Americana at its core: parades, cookouts, cold beer, and, of course, fireworks.
Those pyrotechnics also make it an especially dangerous holiday, typically resulting in more than 10,000 trips to the emergency room. Yet fireworks remain at the center of Independence Day, a holiday 247 years in the making.
Here are five things to know about July Fourth, including the origin of the holiday and how fireworks became part of the tradition.
What’s the origin of Independence Day?
The holiday celebrates the Second Continental Congress’ unanimous adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, a document announcing the colonies’ separation from Great Britain.
One year later, according to the Library of Congress, a spontaneous celebration in Philadelphia marked the anniversary of American independence.
But across the burgeoning nation, observations didn’t become commonplace until after the War of 1812. It quickly took off: The Library of Congress notes that major historic events in the 19th century, such as groundbreaking ceremonies for the Erie Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, were scheduled to coincide with Fourth of July festivities.
How did fireworks become a July Fourth Tradition?
The display of pyrotechnics has been a big part of Independence Day from the outset. Founding Father John Adams saw it coming.
Commemoration of America’s independence “ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more,” Adams wrote in a letter to his wife, Abigail, dated July 3, 1776.
Fireworks were around centuries before America became a nation. The American Pyrotechnics Association says many historians believe fireworks were first developed in the second century B.C. in ancient China by throwing bamboo stalks into fires, causing explosions as the hollow air pockets overheated.
By the 15th century, fireworks were widely used for religious festivals and public entertainment in Europe and early U.S. settlers carried on those traditions, the association said.
Has a president ever refused to celebrate?
Presidents from George Washington to Donald Trump have celebrated the nation’s birth on the Fourth of July, with one exception: Adams.
His letter to his wife aside, Adams refused to celebrate the holiday on July 4 because he felt July 2 was the real Independence Day. Why? It was on July 2, 1776, that the Continental Congress voted in favor of the resolution for independence, though the Declaration of Independence wasn’t formally adopted until two days later.
Adams was so adamant that he turned down invitations to festivals and other events, even while serving as the nation’s second president. Ironically, Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, both died on the 50th anniversary of the document’s formal adoption, July 4, 1826.
How popular are fireworks?
Consumer sales of fireworks have grown rapidly over the past two decades.
Statistics from the American Pyrotechnics Association show that in 2000, American consumers spent $407 million on fireworks. By 2024, that figure rose to $2.2 billion. The biggest jump came during the COVID-19 pandemic when public fireworks displays were shut down. Consumer sales jumped from $1 billion in 2019 to $1.9 billion in 2020.
The cost of fireworks could soar if the trade war between the U.S. and China continues — most aerial shells, paper rockets, and sparkly fountains that transfix the eyes of Americans every Fourth of July are imported from China. A 90-day pause on Trump’s hefty tariffs on Chinese imports brought some temporary relief, but industry experts are uncertain as they watch for an agreement.
Are fireworks dangerous?
Despite widespread education efforts, thousands of Americans are badly injured by fireworks each year.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that in 2024, 11 deaths were blamed on fireworks, up 38% from 2023. An estimated 1,700 people were treated at emergency rooms for sparkler-related injuries and 14,7000 people were injured from fireworks — a 52% increase compared to 2023.
Burns were the most common injury. People hurt their hands and fingers most often, and head, face, and ear injuries were frequent, too.
For those planning to shoot off fireworks, experts urge finding a flat, hard, level surface away from structures and other things that could catch fire. The person responsible for the fireworks should avoid alcohol. Children should never ignite them.
Experts have also encouraged having a bucket or hose nearby in case of fire or explosion. Shoot off one at a time and walk away quickly after igniting, she said, and never relight or handle a malfunctioned firework. When done, shovel up the remains and soak them before disposing.
Independence Day may be synonymous with summer, but one survey found many Americans should go back to school! It turns out one in three people don’t know how to spell “independence” — and even fewer know why Americans celebrate on the Fourth of July!
Specifically, the 2022 poll of 1,030 Americans, commissioned by Lawsuit.org, found that over a third spell of independence incorrectly. Moreover, researchers add that internet searches for “how to spell independence” skyrocketed by 85 percent during the July 4th holiday weekend.
The most common way people misspell this important word in the American lexicon is by using an “a” — spelling it “independence.”
Other common misspellings include independense, indpendence, indiependence, and independents — which is actually a real word, but there’s no such thing as Independents Day.
Are you an independent?
Spelling isn’t the only thing giving many people trouble on the Fourth of July. Last year’s survey also discovered that plenty of respondents deserve an F in American history.
As most elementary school students could tell you, July 4th commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 — signaling the nation’s freedom from British rule. However, the poll found two in three young adults in Gen Z don’t know who America declared its independence from.
In fact, one in three Gen Zers think July 4th celebrates America’s independence from the Native Americans!
Overall, less than 58 percent of all respondents correctly answered that America gained its freedom from Great Britain. Nearly eight percent said “Europe.” Over eight percent said “South America” and more than 12 percent chose “none of the above!” Perhaps these respondents think the sci-fi blockbuster “Independence Day” is a documentary.
The embarrassing American trivia doesn’t end there. The poll also found plenty of people who need a refresher course on the American flag.
One in 10 respondents didn’t know how many stripes are on the American flag. While red, white, and blue may be easy to remember, the poll discovered that the average American thinks there are 14 stripes on the flag — instead of the correct answer of 13, which symbolizes the original 13 colonies.
So, regardless of how you spell it, Happy independance… independense… (oh, the heck with it) Happy Fourth of July!