News Release

New Citizens Sworn In During Naturalization Ceremony at Sagamore Hill

New citizens and judges celebrate on the porch of the Roosevelt Home.

Brenda Cherry

News Release Date: September 26, 2019

Contact: Marie Clifford, 516-922-4788

Oyster Bay, NY – On September 17, 2019, Sagamore Hill National Historic Site hosted its annual Naturalization Ceremony. There were 63 new citizens representative of 34 countries. The ceremony, which took place on Constitution Day, recognized the 100^th anniversary of the adoption of the 19^th Amendment.
The New York State Police Color Guard began the ceremony with the presentation of the colors and Our Lady of Mercy Academy Chorus sang the National Anthem. Master of Ceremonies, United States Magistrate Judge, Honorable Kathleen Tomlinson of the Eastern District of New York, welcomed the new citizens in her speech. She used examples of hard working women suffragists to inspire the new citizens. Sagamore Hill Superintendent Kelly Fuhrmann also highlighted the theme of the ceremony in his speech by saying,
"As citizens, we are all accountable for doing the right thing for the benefit of each other, our children, and the world we live in. We face the challenge of proving ourselves worthy of the freedoms and privileges citizens of the United States enjoy."
Other speeches were given by Our Lady of Mercy Academy student, Mollie Murray, and a key note speech was given by Myrna Perez, Director of the Voting Rights and Elections Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. United States Circuit Judge Honorable Joseph F. Bianco, of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals administered the Oath of Allegiance.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, all new citizens and their families were invited to view the first floor of Sagamore Hill. The League of Woman Voters were also available throughout the event to register new citizens to vote. It was a beautiful and inspiring event for all who attended.