~ Mesa, Arizona - On July 4th, the city of Mesa will welcome up to 100 new U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony at the Willmeng Arizona Celebration of Freedom. This annual event, which has been taking place since 2015, is organized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and will be held at 5 p.m. at the Mesa Convention Center.

The ceremony will be administered by Cynthia Yanez, the Acting Field Office Director for USCIS Phoenix. Among those in attendance will be Mayor Mark Freeman and Councilmember Jenn Duff, who 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 with a motto of "Service to Mankind." According to Barry Dickerson, a member of the Sertoma Club since 1979, incorporating this ceremony on Independence Day felt like a meaningful and fitting addition to the event. "It aligns perfectly with the spirit of the event and the mission of our organization," he said. Dickerson will also lead attendees in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance during the ceremony.

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In addition to organizing the naturalization ceremony, the Sertoma Club also coordinates other patriotic-themed aspects of the Arizona Celebration of Freedom such as displays of flags from different eras in American history, programs on the history of flags, and opportunities for attendees to sign replicas of the Declaration of Independence and receive pocket-size copies of the U.S. Constitution. They also provide copies of civics test questions given to those applying for U.S. citizenship.

The Willmeng Arizona Celebration of Freedom is an annual event that takes place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at both Mesa Convention Center and Mesa Amphitheatre on North Center Street. It features live music, patriotic displays, a BMX stunt show, picnic games, and other family-friendly activities. The event will culminate in a spectacular fireworks display. More information about the event can be found at azcelebrationoffreedom.com.

The 2025 Willmeng Arizona Celebration of Freedom is made possible by the support of various sponsors including the City of Mesa, Mesa Convention Center, Mesa Amphitheater, Sertoma Club, Mesa Recycles, Mesa Water Resources, Downtown Mesa Association, Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Visit Mesa, Mesa Gateway Airport, Niagara, Semper Fi Heating & Cooling, Delta Hotels, Prensa Arizona, VCA Animal Hospitals; 95.5 The Mountain, United Food Bank and Celerion.

As the city of Mesa prepares to celebrate Independence Day with this special naturalization ceremony and other patriotic festivities at the Willmeng Arizona Celebration of Freedom, it is a reminder of the values and principles that make America a land of opportunity for all.

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