Gary Vaynerchuk “GaryVee” To Speak at National Archives Naturalization Ceremony on September 17
Media Alert · Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Washington, DC

To celebrate Constitution Day (September 17), the National Archives is hosting a naturalization ceremony at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 17. The ceremony, held in the historic National Archives Rotunda, will see 25 people from 25 nations sworn in as new U.S. citizens in front of the Constitution and our nation’s other founding documents. Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan and special guest Gary Vaynerchuk, known as “GaryVee,” will provide remarks.

The press is invited to cover the ceremony. Accredited media representatives should use the Constitution Avenue special events entrance, at 7th Street, NW, and set up by 9:45 a.m., as the ceremony begins promptly at 10 a.m. RSVP by September 13, to public.affairs@nara.gov.

This year’s Constitution Day marks the 237th anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Learn more online about the U.S. Constitution through our public programs, family activities, and online resources.

The September 17 ceremony will be hosted by Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan.

“It is an honor to naturalize new citizens at the home of the United States’ founding documents,” said Dr. Shogan. “The National Archives serves as a resource for people to learn about our country, and therefore themselves. The naturalization papers from this ceremony will eventually become a part of our holdings. Welcoming these citizens into our nation adds their rich stories to our shared history.”

The Honorable Judge Randolph D. Moss, District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, will preside as the petitioners take the oath of citizenship. The citizenship candidates are from Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, India, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Serbia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Venezuela. 

Gary Vaynerchuk and his family immigrated to the United States from Belarus in 1978. Known as “GaryVee,” he is a serial entrepreneur and serves as the Chairman of VaynerX,  the CEO of VaynerMedia, and the Creator & CEO of VeeFriends. He is considered one of the leading global minds on what’s next in culture, relevance, and the internet.

This program is presented in partnership with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The use of flash and additional lights is prohibited in the Rotunda.

Please note: due to the ceremony, the Rotunda and the National Archives exhibit galleries will open to the public at 11:30 a.m. on September 17. Regular hours of 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. resume on September 18.

New citizens and guests will share their naturalization ceremony experiences and photos through social media, using the hashtag #NewUSCitizen.