Caitlyn Meisner | cmeisner@alextimes.com

Alexandria City Hall hosted its 20th Citizenship Day ceremony for 25 naturalized citizens who took their Oath of Allegiance Tuesday. They were welcomed to the city and state by Mayor Justin Wilson, City Manager James Parajon, City Councilman Canek Aguirre and Kimberly Zanotti, D.C. field office director from Citizenship and Immigration Services. Zanotti led the new citizens – hailing from 25 different countries – in their Oath of Allegiance. More than 500 naturalized citizens have participated in this ceremony since 2003.

“We celebrate the rebirth of our democracy constantly,” Wilson said at the ceremony. “You are rebirthing our democracy by reenergizing our nation.”