Seattle Center will play host to the 4th of July Naturalization Ceremony, 12pm-1:15pm., Tuesday, July 4. We hope you can join us for this event, which reaffirms the meaning of U.S. citizenship. The Honorable Richard C. Tallman, United States Circuit Court Judge, will swear in over 500 candidates from more than 80 countries as new citizens of the United States of America, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services District Director Anne Corsano will present the candidates. It is an important day for the new citizens, who come from diverse cultures across the globe to make the United States–and the Seattle area–their new home.
Seattle Center, City of Seattle and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services produce the Naturalization Ceremony, held annually at Seattle Center for the past 33 years. City of Seattle Mayor Ed Murray will serve as master of ceremonies, announcing all represented countries and introducing the eldest applicant for citizenship. Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams will welcome attendees. King County Executive Dow Constantine, Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell will address the new citizens.
If you arrive early, you’ll be able to listen to the Navy Band Northwest will in a pre-ceremony performance beginning at 11am. The formal program begins at 12 noon, commencing with the presentation of colors and the singing of the United States National Anthem, followed immediately by a welcoming presentation by Native American performers including Gene Tagaban telling the story of “Once Crazy Raven” and musicians Peter Ali and Swil Kanim. Total Experience Gospel Choir, directed by Patrinell Wright, also will perform during the ceremony, and the Children of our Nations, representing several of the represented cultures, will lead the new citizens in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance for their first time as U.S. citizens.
For more information, call 206-684-7200 or visit www.seattlecenter.com/naturalization.
