HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. - Today Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) hosted a naturalization ceremony for 16 candidates for U.S. citizenship. Family, friends and park visitors gathered to observe the ceremony and celebrate with the new citizens along the banks of the Shenandoah River.
The 16 new citizens originate from the following 12 countries: Burma, Canada, Cuba, El Salvador, Germany, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia and Switzerland.
“Harpers Ferry represents American stories of innovation, education, the struggle for equality and the pursuit of the American dream," Superintendent H. Tyrone Brandyburg said. “It is an ideal location for today’s event, and we are honored to welcome you as U.S. citizens here today."
Supervisory Immigration Services Officer, Yassin Niang administered the Oath of Allegiance. Representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin, III also gave remarks at today’s ceremony.
This year’s event marks the sixth annual naturalization ceremony at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. This ceremony is one of over 316 ceremonies that welcomes more than 34,000 new citizens at Constitution Day and Citizenship Day ceremonies across the nation between Sept. 13 and 23.
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About Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is one of more than 400 national parks cared for by the National Park Service. The 3,500 acre park preserves, protects and interprets the nationally significant history of Harpers Ferry which includes the topics of natural heritage, industry, transportation, John Brown’s Raid, the Civil War and African American history. Located in West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland, the park features over 20 miles of hiking trails. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/hafe.
Tags: citizenship ceremony
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
