VALLEY FORGE — The United States gained 21 new naturalized citizens when the Oath of Allegiance was administered at Valley Forge National Historical Park to people from 14 different countries of origin.
These new American citizens came from Algeria, Bangladesh, Germany, Guatemala, India, Iran, Jamaica, Mexico, Namibia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
The Oct. 29 ceremony was held at the statue of General Friedrich von Steuben overlooking the historic landscape of the Grand Parade where General von Steuben, an immigrant from Prussia who came to the United States during the Valley Forge encampment, trained and professionalized the United States Army in 1778. The National German-American Alliance commissioned the statue of Friedrich von Steuben in 1915 to honor the contributions of German immigrants to the United States.
Keynote speakers included Mayor Pete Urscheler of Phoenixville and Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder. Their remarks reflected the sense of community that comes with citizenship.
Additional support for the ceremony was provided by the Washington Memorial Chapel, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Valley Forge Park Alliance. For many of the new citizens, it was their first time visiting Valley Forge and the backdrop of a national park added to the significance of the day.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Field Office Director Michael Catalano administered the Oath of Allegiance.
Visit nps.gov/vafo for more information about Valley Forge National Historical Park, and uscis.gov for more information on USCIS and its programs, and to find a gallery of photographs from the ceremony below.
