For the second year, Mother Nature has blessed us with warm, sunny blue skies for our “Citizenship Day”, a wonderful Naturalization Ceremony, held on the Fourth of July - the birth of new citizenship on the anniversary of the birth of our nation. This event is enthusiastically attended by the Candidates, their families and friends, the general public and of course the news media. The Saratoga Battle Chapter is again proud to have partnered with the Saratoga Chapter, NSDAR, the Saratoga National Historical Park (Battlefield), the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service of the Department of Homeland Security.

Past Chapter President Duane Booth was master of ceremonies for the event. Local TV News camera crews and reporters covered the event from WRGB (Channel 6), Time Warner News (Channel 9), and WTEN (Channel 10). Newspaper coverage was provided by The Saratogian, Albany’s Times Union and Schenectady’s Daily Gazette.

The Sons & Daughters Fife and Drums opened the Ceremony with a medley of colonial American music.

The Battlefields Musket Team the prepared and the fired their muskets in a manner that our ancestors would have used.

Boys Scout Troop 6 from Glens Falls, NY presented the colors for the event and also helped later in handing out cups of lemonade that were used in toasting America's freedom.

Danielle McMullen a 2005 high school graduate from Broadalbin, NY sang a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and at the end of the program led us in America the Beautiful.

Saratoga Chapter, NSDAR Regent Marion Walter led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Assistant Park Superintendent Joe Finan welcomed the Candidates, their families and guests to the site and noted that our forbearers fought for liberty on these grounds and would be proud that a ceremony like this was held here.

Stillwater Town Supervisor Greg Connors was introduced by Assistant Superintendent Finan. Supervisor Connors congratulated the Candidates on behalf to the Town and Village of Stillwater and noted that American Independence was born here.

Past Chapter President Duane Booth welcome the Candidates and thanked them for not giving up on their quest to become American citizens. He noted that two traits of people in the Hudson and Mohawk valleys were the helpfulness and friendliness to others. This trait grows on people who settle here and if the new citizens don't have these traits they will likely grow on them too.

Duane introduced our main speaker, Assemblyman Roy J. McDonald of the 112th A.D. Assemblyman McDonald noted that while the Candidates came from around the world and from many cultures and backgrounds they were now Americans and one of us. You are a new source of energy, industry and love to America just as those that came before them did.

Past President Booth introduced Marie Burch of the Friend of Saratoga Battlefield and noted the good things the group does at the battlefield. Marie noted that the Friends had close to 500 members but could do many more things with more members.

Duane Kennison, of the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Service addressed the Candidates and asked that they raise there right hand and repeat the Oath of Allegiance that he would recite. Upon completion of the oath, the candidates cheered and those assembled applauded loudly.

SNHP Ranger Joe Craig proclaimed 13 Toasts to America with a clear Revolutionary War era ring to them. To each the crowd responded the appropriate word Huzzah!

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