From NPR news in Washington, I am Barbara Cline.On the National Mall in Washington D.C., Broadway star Kelli O'hara takes the stage in this evening's traditional patriotic extravaganza celebrating July,4th underway right now.At the White House, they marked this Independence Day with a naturalization ceremony.President Obama welcomed 25 new American citizens.And as NPR's Huncy Lewan reports,they're all foreign-born members of the US military.15 countries were represented among the?current?and former military members along with their spouses who were sworn in as US citizens.What makes us American is not just circumstances of our birth, or names on our family tree,it's that timeless belief that for many, we're one.President Obama said the gathering served as a reminder thatAmerica is a nation of immigrants and a country that he said needs to fix its immigration system.We shouldn't be making it harder for the best and the brightest to come here and create jobs here and grow our economy here.We should be making it easier.With talks stalling congress, Obama said this week he would take executive actions to adjust immigration policy.Huncy Lewan, NPR news, Washington.Civilian militias are issuing an action alert urging militia members from around the country to converge in Laredo, Texasin response to the surge of central American immigrants crossing into the US illegally.
