44 become U.S. citizens during Southport Fourth of July Festival

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — While tens of thousands of people are expected to visit Southport this holiday weekend for the North Carolina Fourth of July Festival, Independence Day took on an even greater meaning Friday for 44 people who officially became United States citizens.

Surrounded by family and friends, the new citizens took the Oath of Allegiance during the festival’s annual naturalization ceremony, marking the final step in the citizenship process.

The ceremony included patriotic music, the presentation of the colors, guest speakers, and the oath of allegiance. The new citizens represented countries including Ecuador, Brazil, Australia and India.

Among them was Swathi Dodda, who was born in India and celebrated the milestone alongside her family. The ceremony came just four months after her husband also became a U.S. citizen.

“Was a long, long journey it was here. We came here twenty years back. We came on visas. So, we happily, I mean, we were thinking whether we could settle here or not because our kids were born here, like I said. So, we wanted to stay back here so that we can give them better opportunities. And also, we can get better jobs as well,” said Dodda.

During the ceremony, Naturalization Ceremony Committee Chair Tom Rabon Jr. encouraged the new citizens to embrace what it means to be an American.

“The word American, A-M-E-R-I-C-A-N, always remember the last 4 letters in the word American, I CAN,” said Rabon Jr.

Dodda’s husband, Ravi Kumar Boddavarapu, watched from the audience with their family as she took the oath. Having completed the same journey himself just four months earlier, he said the family is focused on celebrating the occasion.

“Just to really enjoy this feeling, and then there’s no such kind of immediate steps or anything. This itself is a lot of freedom, and we are going to rejoice, and we will explore all the different possibilities,” said Boddavarapu.

The naturalization ceremony has become a longstanding tradition of the North Carolina Fourth of July Festival, which continues throughout the holiday weekend. Festival organizers expect one of the year’s largest crowds for Saturday’s parade and fireworks celebration.