VIDEO: Mount Vernon Celebrates George Washington's Birthday

Visitors paid homage to George Washington during a wreath-laying ceremony Friday at Washington's Tomb at Historic Mount Vernon.

Mount Vernon commemorated Washington's 280th birthday with a naturalization ceremony for new American citizens Friday morning and the wreath-laying ceremony later that day.

American Village Citizenship Trust founder and CEO Tom Walker paid homage to George Washington on behalf of Alabamians during Friday's ceremony.

Walker said in a statement, “Today I am honored to represent the American Village Citizenship Trust national history and civics education center along with the hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, and visitors it has hosted from my home state of Alabama and surrounding Southeastern states since its opening in 1999.  We join generations who have come to this tomb to pay homage to General and President George Washington, the 'indispensable man' for our country. May we take inspiration from this special place back to our own homes and communities, mindful of Washington’s words and example that good citizens and good leaders are indispensable for American liberty and self-government to flourish. May we so serve the country he established and led.”           

After the ceremony, "George Washington" gave an interview to the American Village Citizen Trust to talk about his life and presidency.