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.
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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)
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The Sons & Daughters Fife and Drums opened the Ceremony with
a medley of colonial American music.
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Sons and Daughters Fife and Drums
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The Battlefields Musket Team the prepared and the fired
their muskets in a manner that our ancestors would have used.
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The Saratoga Battlefield Musket Team
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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.
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Members and leaders of Boy Scout Troop 6 presenting the colors
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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.
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Danielle McMullen sings America's National Anthem a cappella
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Saratoga Chapter, NSDAR Regent Marion Walter led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Marion Walters, Regent of the Saratoga Chapter, NSDAR
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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.
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Assistant SNHP Superintendent Joe Finan bows his head during a moment of silence
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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.
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Stillwater Town Supervisor Greg Connors
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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.
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Past Chapter President Duane Booth
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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.
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Assemblyman Roy McDonald
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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.
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Marie Burch, Friends of Saratoga Battlefield
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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.
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Duane Kennison, USCIS
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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!
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SNHP Ranger Joe Craig doubles as a member of the Musket Team and the Toastmaster
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View Candidate List
Read the Daily Gazette article
Read the Times Union article
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