New citizens to be sworn in at Sagamore Hill

On Monday, for the first time, a naturalization ceremony will be held at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site.

Fifty new citizens from 35 countries will take the Oath of Allegiance administered by Judge Joanna Seybert of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

The 10 a.m. ceremony is being held at the home of President Theodore Roosevelt to mark National Park Week. It will be conducted by Andrea Quarantillo, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services New York district director, and Thomas Ross, superintendent at Sagamore Hill.

“Having the ceremony here at a national park site and a president’s home will be very significant for these new citizens and for their understanding that our national parks are our national treasures and as citizens they own these parks and they are here for their use, inspiration and enjoyment,” Ross said.

Citizenship and Immigration Services and the park service have been collaborating on trying to hold naturalization ceremonies at all of the national parks throughout the year, Ross added.