On Independence Day, Arnold Schwarzenegger paid tribute to America’s first president with a personal gesture and a patriotic message: “America’s First Action Hero. Love, Arnold.”
The former California governor and iconic actor placed a specially designed wreath at George Washington’s tomb during a visit to Mount Vernon on July 4, marking the occasion with reverence and gratitude.
Schwarzenegger, who was born in Austria and became a U.S. citizen in 1982, served as the keynote speaker at a naturalization ceremony held on the estate’s grounds. More than 100 new Americans from 95 different countries took the oath of citizenship that day.
Reflecting on his own journey, Schwarzenegger said, “The day I raised my right hand and became an American citizen was, without a doubt, one of the greatest days of my life. If you told me on that day that 43 years later I’d be standing at Mount Vernon, the home of one of my heroes and a 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,” he added. “Nothing is impossible.”
The action star expressed his enduring appreciation for the country he now calls home: “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 opportunities of their new home. I hope they feel the same gratitude I’ve tried to repay by giving back and honoring our Constitution.”
The custom wreath Schwarzenegger helped design included symbolic flowers: white yarrow and Austrian fir representing his birthplace, Austria; red, white, and blue anemones and silver dollar eucalyptus for California and freedom; along with red roses, blue delphinium, white hydrangeas, and red hypericum berries to represent Mount Vernon.
The ceremony concluded with Mount Vernon President and CEO Doug Bradburn reading George Washington’s Prayer for His Country.
