The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana held a naturalization ceremony in which 48 petitioners became United States citizens. The Honorable Greg G. Guidry, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, presided over the March 6 ceremony. He opened the ceremony by inviting everyone to stand for the playing of the National Anthem by the Marine Forces Reserve Band and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, led by representatives from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Judge Guidry then invited keynote speaker Annalisa Miron to provide remarks. Miron, a public defender at EDLA, reflected on her father’s naturalization at this courthouse in 1971. She encouraged the new citizens to embrace their new community through local organizations and elections. Miron emphasized the importance of exercising their freedoms as new citizens to make the country stronger. Peter Mansfield, Chief of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office (EDLA), served as the Attorney General’s designee and certified the petitioners’ eligibility for citizenship. After granting the requests for name change, Judge Guidry had each petitioner announce their name and country of origin before case manager Dedra Pongracz administered the Oath of Allegiance. Petitioners were then given their certificates and took pictures with their families. To view photos from the ceremony, please select this link.