More than 150 people naturalized at Mount Rushmore

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - South Dakota just got a little bit bigger on Friday as more than 150 people were welcomed as citizens of the United States.

At Mount Rushmore, coinciding with National Flag Day, those whom the ceremony was for, from 46 different countries, were officially naturalized as American citizens.

“This is one of our best and most favorite days of the year to welcome new citizens of the United States and here today it is National Flag Day so we are celebrating that true spirit of unity as one nation welcoming all these new citizens from 46 different nations from around the world now part of our story here in America,” said Michelle Wheatly, the superintendent for Mt. Rushmore.

The ceremony was emceed by Chief US District Judge Roberto Lange who welcomed and thanked the new citizens for choosing to become full members of the United States.

“Having people here that are visiting and those who are coming to support their family and friends that are becoming new citizens it is a reminder of the promise of our freedom as citizens of the United States of America,” Wheatly said.

After the speeches... the new citizens went up the stage to express their gratitude and speak about who they were and where they were from.

“So, I came actually as an exchange student. I didn’t plan to stay here but as I see there is such a good people and such a big opportunity, such a big country and I got my education here, I got my job here, so I decided to stay here,” said Inna Lohan, one of the attendants, originally from Ukraine and was naturalized.

After the ceremony, those attending the event were encouraged to register to vote at the booth set up at the visitor center to exercise their new ability to speak their voice in the US government.

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