14 National Parks to Host Citizenship Ceremonies

Thirty two people will become naturalized United States citizens at Yosemite’s famous overlook on Friday, September 16, 2011. This special ceremony commemorates Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, which honors the many contributions of naturalized citizens.

The ceremony will feature high level Department of Homeland Security officials from Washington D.C. providing remarks and administering the Oath of Allegiance to the new citizens. The diverse group of newly naturalized citizens hail from around the world, including the countries of Mexico, Fiji, Cambodia, Russia, Guatemala, and many others.

The new citizens will be joined by their family and friends as they celebrate the end of their journey of becoming American citizens. This will take place at 11:00 a.m. at the Glacier Point Amphitheatre. Joining in this special event are Lori Scialabba, Depurty Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Washington D.C., Superintendent Don Neubacher, officials from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the newly naturalized U.S. citizens and their families. The naturalization ceremony will include Yosemite’s Mounted Patrol conducting the flag ceremony amid the spectacular views from Glacier Point.

Lucky group of 32. Do they get special privileges to the Overhanging Rock?

WASHINGTON — In recognition of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on Sept. 17, 14 naturalization ceremonies will take place in national parks across the country through a long-standing partnership with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The USCIS will welcome more than 27,000 new American citizens during 285 naturalization ceremonies held across the country and around the world during the week of Sept. 15.

“Each year on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, we commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution and what it means to be a citizen of this great nation,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “We continue to be enriched by our diversity and united by our shared respect for the foundational rights and responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution.”

To introduce our newest citizens to the natural wonders and treasured historic sites across our great country, USCIS and NPS have partnered again this year to conduct naturalization ceremonies at NPS sites across the country.

The capstone ceremony will take place on Sept. 23 at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. In addition, this year’s celebration includes a ceremony at Federal Hall in New York City, where George Washington took his oath of office as the first President of the United States, and at Yosemite National Park in California, one of America’s first wilderness parks. Other national park ceremonies will include Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Washington state, the Roger Williams National Memorial in Providence, R.I., and Point Reyes National Seashore in California.

“I can't think of places more appropriate to welcome our newest citizens than national parks,” said NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis. “National parks preserve significant natural resources and cultural heritage sites, and are places where one can learn about and reflect on the American identity and the responsibilities of citizenship.”

USCIS will also host ceremonies at Golden Hall in San Diego, the National Archives in Atlanta and Boston, and the Campbell Heritage Theater in California, in addition to a military naturalization ceremony on the USS North Carolina in Wilmington, N.C.

Learn more about the NPS-USCIS partnership program at http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/newcitizens.htm.