National Archives Celebrates Bill of Rights Day with Naturalization Ceremony
Press Release · Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Washington, DC

On Tuesday, December 16, at 10 a.m., the National Archives continues its popular tradition of holding a naturalization ceremony for petitioners seeking United States citizenship. The moving ceremony will be in honor of the 217th anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Rights (December 15), and will take place in front of the original “Charters of Freedom” (The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights) in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom of the National Archives Building. The ceremony is co-sponsored by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The Honorable Royce Lamberth, United States District Court for the District of Columbia will preside as petitioners for United States citizenship take the oath of citizenship in front of the Charters of Freedom. Judge Lamberth and Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein will make remarks.

The Press is Invited to Cover the Ceremony. The press should use the Constitution Avenue special events entrance, at 7th Street, NW, and set up by 9:45 a.m., as the ceremony begins promptly at 10:00 a.m.

The Use of Flash and Additional Lights is Prohibited in the Rotunda.

Please note: due to the ceremony, the Rotunda will open to the public at 11:30 a.m. and remain open until 5:30 p.m. Regular hours of 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. resume on Wednesday, December 17.

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For Press information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (202) 357-5300.

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