More than 70 immigrants became U.S. citizens Wednesday morning in downtown Reno as part of Hot August Nights.
The naturalization ceremony happened inside the National Automobile Museum.
The third annual ceremony welcomed citizens from 25 countries: Bangladesh, Chile, China, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, El Salvador, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
The new citizens range in age from 20 to 81.
One of the youngest says being an American citizen means she is now free to pursue her goals. "It's such an amazing feeling, I feel I have the world in my hands, like I could do anything. I can finally achieve my dreams now," says Janet Pulido of Fallon.
Janet plans to go to college and eventually hopes to become a musician.
The Nevada Air National Color Guard posted colors for the ceremony and the Four of a Kind Barbershop Quartet performed the National Anthem.
For more information on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, go to www.uscis.gov or follow them on Twitter @uscis.
Written by Kellene Stockwell
