News Release

Harry S Truman National Historic Site and Partners Welcome New Citizens to the American Family

New citizens and their families

NPS/ K. Boysen

News Release Date: August 11, 2023

Contact: DJ Richardson

On July 25, 2023, fifty children became US citizens at Harry S Truman National Historic Site during two naturalization ceremonies held on the grounds of the Truman home.  

“Juventus spes mundi,” a Latin phrase translated as “youth are the hope of the world,” was written on the front door of the high school where Harry Truman graduated. Harry Truman truly believed that our youth are the hope of the world, and they always will be. “It’s our honor to be a small part of your journey,” said Superintendent Carol Dage to the children in her closing statements. 

Independence, Missouri, Mayor Rory Rowland expressed that the people of Harry Truman's and Bess Wallace Truman's hometown were proud of them and their accomplishments.

The naturalization ceremony culminates the naturalization process with the reciting of the Oath of Allegiance. During the ceremony, a US Citizenship and Immigration Services Officer led the citizenship candidates in reciting the Oath and completed their citizenship process.  

The 50 citizenship candidates originated from 15 different countries: Syria, Turkey, Kenya, Pakistan, Vietnam, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Iraq, Russia, China, United Arab Emirates, and the Netherlands.  

Youth are the hope of the world!