Photography

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Treacy Coates, originally from Australia, waves to a friend in the audience before the start of the 28th Annual Naturalization Ceremony at Seattle Center on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. Coates was among 8 Australians in the crowd of 525 applicants for U.S. citizenship that were on hand to take the oath.

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Naser Abdelrahim, left, lays a kiss on his sister, Seada, after she took the oath of citizenship at the 28th Annual Citizenship Ceremony at Seattle Center on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. They are from Ethiopia.

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES

A Vietnamese family poses in front of a giant U.S. flag at the 28th Annual Citizenship Ceremony at Seattle Center on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. Cao Nguyen, 73, far right, and her great nephew, The Nguyen, far left, had just received their citizenship paperwork, which they are holding. At center is Cao Nguyen's daughter, Hue Huynh. They all traveled from Bellingham to attend the event.

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES

There were 525 applicants, representing 82 countries who took the oath of U.S. citizenship at the 28th Annual Citizenship Ceremony at Seattle Center on Wednesday, July 4, 2012.

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Lori Marshall wore festive sunglasses to the the 28th Annual Citizenship Ceremony at Seattle Center on Wednesday, July 4, 2012.