Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif., placed a wreath at George Washington’s tomb on Friday, calling him “America’s first action hero.”
Schwarzenegger also delivered a speech at an Independence Day naturalization ceremony at Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, located just outside of Washington, D.C. in Virginia.
“I owe everything to this country, and I can’t wait to share this moment with these new citizens to remind them of the limitless opportunity afforded by their new home,” he said.
“I hope they will feel the same debt of gratitude that I’ve tried to repay throughout my whole life by giving back, being committed to our Constitution, and united by our shared values,” he added.
The ceremony included 100 new citizens from 95 countries.
“The day I raised my right hand and became an American citizen was, without a doubt, one of the greatest days of my life,” Schwarzenegger said. “If you told me on that day that 43 years later I would be standing at Mount Vernon, the home of one of my heroes and a historic symbol of freedom and democracy, to welcome more new citizens, I would have been shocked. But that’s the beauty of the United States of America: nothing is impossible.”
