18 The Courier sun • SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Scores of new citizens take oath at Jamaica’s King Manor BY ROBERT POZARYCKI rpozarycki@qns.com/@robbpoz This great nation added several dozen new citizens from all corners of the globe during the annual “Citizenship Day” ceremony at the King Manor Museum in Jamaica last Tuesday, Sept. 14. U.S. District Court Judge Eric Vitaliano administered the oath of allegiance to the new citizens on the manor’s lawn and provided them with naturalization certificates confirming their membership in the republic. An annual tradition at King Manor, Citizenship Day coincides with Constitution Day, a holiday marking the ratification of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 14, 1789. Through the years, scores of newcomers from Queens — upon passing their citizenship tests and review — have become citizens at the King Manor, which is the former home of Rufus King, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. This year’s class included natives of Algeria, Bangladesh, Colombia, China, Dominican Republic, Germany, Jamaica, Mexico, Montenegro and many other nations. Among those on hand to officially welcome the newcomers as citizens were Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, King Manor Board Chairman Gerald Calienod, King Manor Executive Director Nadezhda Williams and representatives of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Queens field office. Photos by Walter Karling As Judge Eric Vitaliano of the US Federal Court, Eastern District of NY, and Bryan Christian (Director) and Brian Meier (Deputy Director) of the Queens Field Office of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services look on, Donna Breitzer , the Director of the Five Boroughs Music Festival, sings the National Anthem for the gathering. Speakers and dignitaries on the platform look on attentively: Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, the National Deputy Director of the US Dept. of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency, Albert Shen; King Manor Executive Director Nadezhda Williams; King Manor Board Chairman Gerald Caliendo; and King Manor Resident Caretaker, Roy Fox. (Top) New citizens come up to stage to receive their naturalization certificates. (Circle insert) Shaheda Khanam, from Bangladesh (Left) New citizens come up to stage to receive their naturalization The reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. certificates.
SC09222016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above