101 applicants for U.S. citizenship from 27 countries took the Oath of Allegiance during the Special Naturalization Ceremony held at the Rialto Square Theatre in downtown Joliet on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. In echo Thomas Jefferson’s words in the Declaration of Independence, he reflected on the common bond among all of these new Americans. The pageantry of the American melting pot was on full display as people from Germany, China, Egypt and other spots around the globe pledged allegiance to their new nation