A joint color guard of Nebraska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, along with a brass quintet from the Nebraska Army National Guard’s 43rd Army Band, celebrated Nebraska Statehood Day at the Capitol in Lincoln, March 1, 2023. Hosted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and in honor of the 156th anniversary of when Nebraska joined the Union as the 37th state, 25 new U.S. citizens from 14 countries took the Oath of Allegiance administered by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Throughout the ceremony, the brass quintet performed patriotic music, including a new arrangement of “Beautiful Nebraska” by Sgt. Frank Stroup, 43rd Army Band trumpet. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen congratulated the new U.S. citizens during his keynote speech, and U.S. President Joseph Biden welcomed the new citizens in a recorded video message. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa Crawford)