Middleton Place Hosts Naturalization Ceremony

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness….”
Those words, drawn from the Declaration of Independence and undersigned by Arthur Middleton in 1776, form the heart of what it means to be an American. This week U.S. government will bestow those rights on dozens of new American citizens at a Naturalization Ceremony at Middleton Place.
Held each year on Arthur Middleton’s birthday, the Naturalization Ceremony has become a distinctly patriotic event at Middleton Place. It serves as a reminder of the varied makeup nation’s citizenry, which through natural birth or Naturalization, weaves the cultural patchwork that is the United States of America. One observer said of the 2012 event, “it leaves a lasting impression. Barely a hundred yards from where a signer of the Declaration of Independence once lived, America’s newest citizens declared their loyalty to the United States of America. Ever heard the Pledge of Allegiance recited by people with German, Hispanic and Filipino accents? It will make you pay attention to the meaning of those words even more closely.”
Middleton Place welcomes the public to attend the ceremony to witness the momentous occasion. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26 with the Presentation of the Colors by the Colonial Color Guard. Trumpet soloist Michael Smith will perform the National Anthem. A Welcome Message from Charles Duell, Middleton Place Foundation President, will then be given, followed by a keynote speech by Deputy District Director for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Roxroy Collins. The Oath of Allegiance will be administered by Lori Scialabba, Deputy Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The ceremony will take place on the Greensward under the oaks, weather permitting. In case of rain, the event will be moved inside the Middleton Place Pavilion. Attendance is free with paid admission.
Following the Naturalization Ceremony, new citizens and their families are encouraged to explore Middleton Place through Garden, House Museum, Stableyards, and African American focus tours. The House Museum will host Arthur Middleton-themed tours that day, focusing on his family, his service during the American Revolution, and objects he once owned.
 
Middleton Place is located at 4300 Ashley River Road. For more information call 556-6020 or visit www.middletonplace.org