Herbert Hoover National Historic Site to Host Naturalization Ceremony During Citizenship Week

New citizens have taken the Oath of Allegiance at Herbert Hoover NHS each year for the last five years.

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

News Release Date: September 8, 2010

Contact: Cheryl A. Schreier, [phone]

Contact: Neil Korsmo, [phone]

Contact: Matthew Schaefer, [phone]

Embrace Citizenship – Experience America Through Your National Parks

WEST BRANCH, IOWA— Eighty candidates will become new citizens during a ceremony at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site on September 13, 2010. This is one of more than 20 naturalization ceremonies taking place in national parks during Citizenship Week under a partnership between the National Park Service and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The theme is “Embrace Citizenship – Experience America through your National Parks.”

U. S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jon S. Scoles will preside at the naturalization of 80 applicants for U.S. citizenship in a 1:30 p.m. outdoor ceremony at the east front of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum on the grounds of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. It was on this very spot that Presidents Herbert Hoover and Harry S. Truman dedicated the library on August 10, 1962.The ceremony is a unique collaboration between the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, the Citizenship and Immigration Service of the Department of Homeland Security, the National Park Service, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Association.

The ceremony will begin with a presentation of the colors by American Legion Post 514 and a solo rendition of the national anthem by vocalist Diana Nollen. Following a motion to grant citizenship from the Citizenship and Immigration Service, the Clerk of the Court will lead the applicants in the Oath of Allegiance. Judge Scoles will lead the applicants in the Pledge of Allegiance and deliver remarks on the occasion. Jill Barnhart will sing “God Bless America” to close the ceremony.

The public is welcome to attend and is encouraged to arrive on the site no later than 1 p.m. The ceremony will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m. Since seating is limited to the applicants and their guests, it is suggested that visitors bring blankets or lawn chairs. For more information on the ceremony, contact Matt Schaefer at the Hoover Library: [phone].

“I can’t think of places more appropriate to welcome a new generation of American citizens than national parks,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “These parks, which are owned by all Americans, are not only places of stunning natural beauty and abundant wildlife, but across this country the nearly 400 national parks preserve our nation’s fascinating history and protect our rich cultural heritage. From the Aztec Ruins National Monument in New Mexico to Ellis Island in New York City, national parks ensure our nation’s artifacts and records are protected for generations to come.”

The National Park Service and USCIS recently renewed a formal partnership to enhance citizenship ceremonies by holding them in national parks throughout the country. The agreement helps introduce new citizens to some of the nation’s most significant natural resources and cultural heritage sites. These historic and picturesque sites provide an ideal backdrop for citizenship ceremonies, where new citizens can learn about and reflect on American identity and the responsibilities of citizenship.
“Each year we recognize Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution and to reflect on what it means to be a citizen of this nation,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “While we continue to be enriched by our cultural and ethnic diversity, we remain united in our respect for the Constitution and to the foundational rights and responsibilities it represents.”

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Parking is limited so please allow extra time to find a parking space.