Saratoga Battle Chapter SAR
Saratoga Battle Chapter

Second July 4th Citizenship Day
Well Received


Saratoga National Historical Park
Stillwater, NY - July 4, 2005

For the second year, Mother Nature has blessed us with warm, sunny blue skies for our “Citizenship Day”, a wonderful Naturalization Ceremony, held on the Fourth of July - the birth of new citizenship on the anniversary of the birth of our nation. This event is enthusiastically attended by the Candidates, their families and friends, the general public and of course the news media. The Saratoga Battle Chapter is again proud to have partnered with the Saratoga Chapter, NSDAR, the Saratoga National Historical Park (Battlefield), the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service of the Department of Homeland Security.

Past Chapter President Duane Booth was master of ceremonies for the event. Local TV News camera crews and reporters covered the event from WRGB (Channel 6), Time Warner News (Channel 9), and WTEN (Channel 10). Newspaper coverage was provided by The Saratogian, Albany’s Times Union and Schenectady’s Daily Gazette.

Some of our Committee Members Pose for Shot before Ceremony (l to r - DAR Chapter Regent Marion Walters, SNHP Program Director Gina Johnson, FOSB Membership Chair Marie Burch, Past Chapter President Booth and Duane Kennison of the Albany USCIS Office)
Some of our Committee Members Pose for Shot before Ceremony (l to r - DAR Chapter Regent Marion Walters, SNHP Program Director Gina Johnson, FOSB Membership Chair Marie Burch, Past Chapter President Booth and Duane Kennison of the Albany USCIS Office)

The Sons & Daughters Fife and Drums opened the Ceremony with a medley of colonial American music.

Sons and Daughters Fife and Drums
Sons and Daughters Fife and Drums

The Battlefields Musket Team the prepared and the fired their muskets in a manner that our ancestors would have used.

The Saratoga Battlefield Musket Team
The Saratoga Battlefield Musket Team

Boys Scout Troop 6 from Glens Falls, NY presented the colors for the event and also helped later in handing out cups of lemonade that were used in toasting America's freedom.

Members and leaders of Boy Scout Troop 6 presenting the colors
Members and leaders of Boy Scout Troop 6 presenting the colors

Danielle McMullen a 2005 high school graduate from Broadalbin, NY sang a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and at the end of the program led us in America the Beautiful.

Danielle McMullen sings America's National Anthem a cappella
Danielle McMullen sings America's National Anthem a cappella

Saratoga Chapter, NSDAR Regent Marion Walter led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Marion Walters, Regent of the Saratoga Chapter, NSDAR
Marion Walters, Regent of the Saratoga Chapter, NSDAR

Assistant Park Superintendent Joe Finan welcomed the Candidates, their families and guests to the site and noted that our forbearers fought for liberty on these grounds and would be proud that a ceremony like this was held here.

Assistant SNHP Superintendent Joe Finan bows his head during a moment of silence
Assistant SNHP Superintendent Joe Finan bows his head during a moment of silence

Stillwater Town Supervisor Greg Connors was introduced by Assistant Superintendent Finan. Supervisor Connors congratulated the Candidates on behalf to the Town and Village of Stillwater and noted that American Independence was born here.

Stillwater Town Supervisor Greg Connors
Stillwater Town Supervisor Greg Connors

Past Chapter President Duane Booth welcome the Candidates and thanked them for not giving up on their quest to become American citizens. He noted that two traits of people in the Hudson and Mohawk valleys were the helpfulness and friendliness to others. This trait grows on people who settle here and if the new citizens don't have these traits they will likely grow on them too.

Past Chapter President Duane Booth
Past Chapter President Duane Booth

Duane introduced our main speaker, Assemblyman Roy J. McDonald of the 112th A.D. Assemblyman McDonald noted that while the Candidates came from around the world and from many cultures and backgrounds they were now Americans and one of us. You are a new source of energy, industry and love to America just as those that came before them did.

Assemblyman Roy McDonald
Assemblyman Roy McDonald

Past President Booth introduced Marie Burch of the Friend of Saratoga Battlefield and noted the good things the group does at the battlefield. Marie noted that the Friends had close to 500 members but could do many more things with more members.

Marie Burch, Friends of Saratoga Battlefield
Marie Burch, Friends of Saratoga Battlefield

Duane Kennison, of the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Service addressed the Candidates and asked that they raise there right hand and repeat the Oath of Allegiance that he would recite. Upon completion of the oath, the candidates cheered and those assembled applauded loudly.

Duane Kennison, USCIS
Duane Kennison, USCIS

SNHP Ranger Joe Craig proclaimed 13 Toasts to America with a clear Revolutionary War era ring to them. To each the crowd responded the appropriate word Huzzah!

SNHP Ranger Joe Craig doubles as a member of the Musket Team and the Toastmaster
SNHP Ranger Joe Craig doubles as a member of the Musket Team and the Toastmaster

View Candidate List

Read the Daily Gazette article

Read the Times Union article

 

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©2005 Saratoga Battle Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution