Monticello 53rd annual

nickel porch
FOB Terence R. McAuliffe, Governor of Virginia, addressed the crowd gathered for the 53rd annual Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony at Monticello.


pipeline protest
Court was called into session, petitioners at Monticello took the oath of citizenship. McAuliffe posed for photos with the new citizens. I am fairly sure the Governor did not pause, on his way up to Monticello, for photos with these petitioners. The “Macster” is a deal maker. Energy companies are granted audience, common citizens can hold their breath.


new citizens
The naturalization ceremony provides a happier meditation on the strengths of our country.

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”-Oath of Citizenship

Author: WmX

I stumbled off the track to success in 1968, started chasing shadows that summer. Since then, In addition to farm-laborer and newspaper photographer my occupational incarnations include dishwasher, janitor, retail photo clerk, plumber, HVAC repairman, auto mechanic, CAT scan technologist, computer worker and politico (whatever it takes to buy a camera.) I am on the road to understanding black and white photography.