For Immediate Release:
August 4, 2010
Contact: Sandie Thielen at 605-399-6000
Naturalization Ceremony to be Held at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The United States District Court of South Dakota will hold a Naturalization Ceremony at Mount Rushmore National Memorial on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 2pm in which approximately 100 people will become new American Citizens. The ceremony will be held in the Amphitheater and is sponsored by the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society.
Representatives of the United States District Court, United States Citizenship & Immigration Services and the South Dakota Army National Guard will participate in the ceremony. During the ceremony, special guest speaker, Brendan Johnson, the United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota, will share his unique experience with American citizenship as it pertains to the adoption of two of his children from Ethiopia.
More than 80 members of the Dakota Choral Union will perform three patriotic songs, including the National Anthem with featured soloist and new citizen Juliana Depaula Tomek of Brazil. In addition, Graham Thatcher will present presidential readings, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial’s Acting Superintendent Hugh Dougher, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society, the Daughters of the American Revolution and students from West Middle School will make special presentations to the new citizens.
Following the ceremony, Pennington County Auditor Julie Pearson will be available for voter registration outside the Carvers Cafe. Registration will be open to all eligible South Dakota voters, not just those from Pennington County.
The public is invited to attend this celebration of citizenship of the United States. The ceremony is free. There is a $10 parking fee per car.