National Archives Celebrates Bill of Rights Anniversary with Naturalization Ceremony
Press Release · Thursday, December 8, 2011
Washington, DC
Contact Information
- National Archives Public Affairs Staff
(202) 357-5300
On Thursday, December 15, at 10 a.m., the National Archives continues its popular tradition of holding a naturalization ceremony for petitioners seeking United States citizenship. The moving ceremony will be in honor of the 220th anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Rights, and will take place in front of the original “Charters of Freedom” (The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights) in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building. This year’s ceremony will feature remarks from Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero and a keynote address by former White House chef Roland Mesnier. The press is invited to cover the ceremony.
The National Archives program is presented in partnership with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. The ceremony is open to petitioners’ families and guests as well as to a limited number of the public. Space must be reserved by e-mailing specialevents@nara.gov.
The Honorable Royce Lamberth, United States District Court for the District of Columbia will preside as 20 petitioners for United States citizenship take the oath of citizenship in front of the Charters of Freedom. The new citizens are from 18 nations: Armenia, Canada, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, India, Nigeria, Venezuela, Pakistan, Peru, United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Sri Lanka.
The Press is Invited to Cover the Ceremony. The press should use the Constitution Avenue special events entrance, at 7th Street, NW, and set up by 9:45 a.m., as the ceremony begins promptly at 10 a.m.
Please Note: The Use of Flash and Additional Lights is Prohibited in the Rotunda.
Please note: due to the ceremony, the Rotunda will open to the public at 11:30 a.m. and remain open until 5:30 p.m. Regular hours of 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. resume on Friday, December 16.
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For press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs Staff at 202-357-5300.
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This page was last reviewed on March 21, 2019.
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