On July 4, 2005, the Ethnic Heritage Council hosted the 21^st Annual Naturalization Ceremony at Seattle Center. Over 500 people, from more than 70 countries, were sworn in by U.S District Court Judge Beezer, as new citizens of the United States of America.  Produced by the Ethnic Heritage Council, Seattle Center, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and proudly sponsored by Bank of America, this is by far one of the most meaningful and moving Fourth of July events in the region and arouses great interest among friends and families of the new citizens as well as within the general community.  While this was an especially important day for the many new citizens, coming from a variety of nations and cultures, it also served to reaffirm the deeper meaning of being a citizen of the United States of America. 
The ceremony included speeches by Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire, U.S. Representative Jim McDermott, Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed, and King County Executive Ron Sims, with Seattle City Mayor Gregory J. Nickels as Master of Ceremonies. 
Navy Band Northwest performed festive selections. The United States Army Color Guard presented the colors.  During the ceremony, Total Experience Gospel Choir, with director Pat Wright performed also.  The Children of the World lead the new citizens in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance for their first time.
Each year, the Ethnic Heritage Council honors a naturalized citizen who has made outstanding contribution to his or her adopted country, the U.S.A., while maintaining his or her ethnic heritage.  Congressman Jim McDermott presented the 2005 “Spirit of Liberty Award” to Assunta Ng, born in China, who came to the U.S. as an exchange student in 1970.  In 1982 Assunta founded the Seattle Chinese Post, the first Chinese newspaper in the Pacific Northwest for half a century, where she has continued as publisher, and the Northwest Asian Weekly, the only English-language Asian weekly in the Northwest.  
21^st Annual Naturalization Ceremony is produced by the Ethnic Heritage Council, a non-profit organization formed in 1980, Seattle Center and United States Department of Homeland Security, proudly sponsored by Seattle Center, Bank of America, Western Washington Toyota Dealers Association, University Lions Foundation, American Legion Seattle Post #1, Port of Seattle, Rotary Club of the Seattle International District, Nigerian Community Association of Washington State, World Television, and supported by the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, 4Culture, Washington State Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.  Since its inception, the Council has worked to promote inter-ethnic communication and cultural preservation in the Northwest.

All Photographs By Jal (Viewmyevent.com)