SHREVEPORT, La. - Dreams will become reality on Wednesday as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services presents 50 candidates to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana during a special Naturalization Celebration. It's all part of the 2025 KTBS 3 Freedom Fest Series.
U.S. District Judge Maury Hicks will administer the oath of Allegiance to the soon-to-be American citizens. The Western District of Louisiana stretches all the way from Shreveport-Bossier City to Monroe, Alexandria, and Lafayette. Those taking the oath come from the 23 countries listed below.
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Cambodia
- Australia
- United Kingdom
- Nigeria
- Vietnam
- Latvia
- Jamaica
- India
- Canada
- Spain
- Philippines
- China
- Guatemala
- Rwanda
- Laos
- Jordan
- South Korea
- Cameroon
- Colombia
- Pakistan
- Uganda
The events get underway a 2 p.m. at The Strand Theatre as the facility celebrates its 100th birthday with a special performance by the ever-popular Victory Belles.
The swearing-in begins promptly at 3 p.m. It’s free and open to the public. If you can't make it there in person, it will be livestreaming on KTBS.com and KTBS+.
There are a few rules you should know about if you plan on attending. No bags larger than 9-by-12 inches, no weapons, illegal drugs, paraphernalia or tobacco, no outside food or beverages, and no strollers or wagons.
About the Victory Belles
The Victory Belles are a delightful vocal trio performing the music of the 1940s, serenading audiences at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans and across the globe.
The music of that era brought hope and joy to our GIs and those on the Home Front alike — and the Victory Belles keep that tradition alive in rich, three-part harmony. Their repertoire includes all the treasured gems of the WWII era plus patriotic classics including a musical salute to each branch of the U.S. armed forces.
About Freedom Fest Finale
As always, we'll be celebrating Independence Day on July 4 in grand style from five locations across the ArkLaTex, complete with top-notch entertainment and simultaneous, massive fireworks displays. They include Downtown Shreveport, South Bossier Park, Bossier Cypress Lake, and stretching into Texas in Jefferson and Longview.
The fireworks will launch at each location at 9:30 p.m. and are sponsored by Brookshire’s Grocery Company/Super-1 Foods, Hebert’s Town & Country, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel, and Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Homes.
The evening will be filled with patriotic performances including sounds from the U.S. Air Force Academy Band (Wild Blue Country) and more from the Victory Belles.
Freedom Fest Finale Coverage Times & Platforms
- KTBS.com & KTBS+ throughout the day
- 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. – KPXJ News & KTBS 3.3
- 5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. – KTBS News & KTBS 3.3
- 5:30 p.m. - World News Tonight on KTBS
- 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. – KTBS News & KTBS 3.3
- 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. – KPXJ News, KTBS News & KTBS 3.3
- 10 p.m. - KTBS News & KTBS 3.3
If you can't make it to one of the locations in person, the Best Seat in the House is right in front of your television. You can stay at home and watch all the dazzling displays simultaneously on KTBS/KPXJ beginning at 9:30 p.m.
As always, we want to see your celebration. Show Your View of the Red, White, and Blue. Send us your photos to pics@KTBS.com or post them to our Facebook page, and to get more eyes on your pictures, be sure and use #KTBSSalutes on social media.
The Freedom Fest Finale is sponsored by:
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.