Mesa will welcome up to 100 new U.S. citizens on July 4. Since 2015, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been holding a naturalization ceremony at the Willmeng Arizona Celebration of Freedom. The ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. at the Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St. USCIS Phoenix Acting Field Office Director Cynthia Yanez will administer the Oath of Allegiance to the new citizens. Mayor Mark Freeman and Councilmember Jenn Duff will participate in the ceremony.
The idea to include a naturalization ceremony as part of the Arizona Celebration of Freedom came from the Sertoma Club, a founding partner of the event and a Mesa service organization, founded in 1954, whose motto is “Service to Mankind.”
“As we explored new ways to enhance the Arizona Celebration of Freedom, one of the long-time members of the Sertoma Club, Walt Zimmerman, suggested that incorporating a naturalization ceremony on Independence Day felt like a meaningful and fitting addition to the event,” said Barry Dickerson, a member of the Sertoma Club since 1979. “It aligns perfectly with the spirit of the event and the mission of our organization.” Dickerson will lead attendees in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance during the ceremony…