Celebrate Arthur Middleton’s 277th birthday and welcome our country’s newest Americans as they take the oath of citizenship at the home of an ardent patriot and Founding Father of our nation who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Program Outline

INTRODUCTION
Crystal Jones, Immigration Services Analyst
Charleston Field Office, USCIS

PRESENTATION OF THE FLAG
Colonial Color Guard

NATIONAL ANTHEM
Leah María de la Luz Suárez, Vocalist

READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Jeff Neale, Director of Interpretation and Preservation
as Arthur Middleton

WELCOMING REMARKS
Tracey Todd, President and CEO
Middleton Place Foundation

PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR CITIZENSHIP
Caitlin Wegrzyn, Field Office Director
Charleston Field Office, USCIS

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE AND CITIZENSHIP ADDRESS
The Honorable Richard M. Gergel
U.S. District Court, Charleston, SC

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
Leah María de la Luz Suárez, Vocalist

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Bob Hyatt, Lt. Col,
United States Army, Retired

RETIRING THE COLORS
Colonial Color Guard

PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES
Thomas Barefoot, Supervisory Immigration Services Officer
Charleston Field Office, USCIS

New citizens are invited to take photographs with the Colonial Color Guard and explore Middleton Place.

Special thanks to the “Navy Wives Club” for providing refreshments
for new citizens and their families following the ceremony.