14 National Parks to Host Citizenship Ceremonies
OutdoorHub 09.18.11
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 USSNorth Carolina in Wilmington, N.C.
Learn more about the NPS-USCIS partnership program at http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/newcitizens.htm.
To view a list of special 2011 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day naturalization ceremonies, please visit www.uscis.gov/news. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.
