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Excerpt from President Obama’s July 4, 2012 remarks
at a citizenship ceremony making 25 active-duty service members new Americans:
Happy Fourth of July.
What a perfect way to celebrate America’s
birthday -- the world’s oldest democracy, with some of our newest
citizens.
I have to tell you, just
personally, this is one of my favorite things to do. It brings me great
joy and inspiration because it reminds us that we are a country that is bound
together not simply by ethnicity or bloodlines, but by fidelity to a set of
ideas. And as members of our military, you raised your hand and took an
oath of service. It is an honor for me to serve as your Commander-in-Chief.
Today, you raised your hand and have taken an oath of citizenship. And I
could not be prouder to be among the first to greet you as "my fellow
Americans."
Looking back, it was an act
of extraordinary audacity -- a few dozen delegates, in that hall in Philadelphia, daring to defy the mightiest empire in the
world, declaring "that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be
Free and Independent
States."
Two hundred and thirty-six
years later, we marvel at America’s
story. From a string of 13 colonies to 50 states from sea to shining
sea. From a fragile experiment in democracy to a beacon of freedom that
still lights the world. From a society of farmers and merchants to the
largest, most dynamic economy in the world. From a ragtag army of
militias and regulars to you -- the finest military that the world has ever
known. From a population of some 3 million -- free and slave -- to more
than 300 million Americans of every color and every creed.
Read the full transcript here:
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