BALTIMORE – On Thursday, Aug. 25, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael L. Connor will deliver remarks and welcome 25 new citizens at a special naturalization ceremony at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in honor of the National Park Service (NPS) Centennial. The visit is the last stop of Deputy Secretary Connor’s tour celebrating the 100-year milestone of America’s national parks, focusing on connecting with and creating the next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates.
As the site that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the star-shaped Fort McHenry successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from the British Navy during the Battle of Baltimore from September 13-14, 1814.
As part of the Centennial celebration this year, the NPS has partnered with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to hold more than 100 naturalization ceremonies at NPS sites across the country. Under a memorandum of understanding that has been in effect since 2006, NPS and USCIS plan ceremonies in parks regularly. Ceremonies have been happening throughout the year, and the effort is the largest collaboration to date to welcome America’s newest citizens to our national parks.
Throughout the week, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Deputy Secretary Connor are traveling across the nation to commemorate the National Park Service Centennial.
Who:
Michael L. Connor, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior
What:
Keynote remarks at a special naturalization ceremony
When:
Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016
1:45 p.m. EDT – Media check-in
2:00 p.m. EDT – Ceremony Begins
Where:
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
2400 East Fort Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21230
Media:
Credentialed members of the media are encouraged to RSVP to James.R.McKinney@uscis.dhs.gov
Source: Department of Interior
