On Wednesday, July 3, the USS Hornet was the scene of one of the most meaningful events of the venerable ship’s calendar year. As part of Independence Day celebrations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) welcomed over 10,000 new citizens in 190 naturalization ceremonies nationwide.
Fittingly, the Hornet played host to 76 of our newest citizens, representing 31 countries from Algeria to Vietnam. With a massive American flag as a backdrop, the aft section of the Hornet’s hangar deck provided the perfect setting.
As participants and family arrived, patriotic songs were sung by the acapella singing group TOSCA, the East Bay wing of the Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra & Chorus.
Ellen Jenkins, Section Chief of the San Francisco Field office of USCIS served as emcee. After she welcomed the prospective citizens and their families, her attention turned to members of the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Gray Ghost Division. This training program serves students aged 14 – 17, with drills held monthly on the Hornet. The cadets served as color guards, presenting the flags of the United States and the Department of Homeland Security to officially open the proceedings.
TOSCA member Chris Poston delivered a rousing acapella performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” that was greeted with enthusiastic applause.
Maureen Whalen Vavra, the Vice Chair of the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum, gave the welcoming remarks. When Ms. Vavra finished, Hannah Lam, the San Francisco Field Office Director of USCIS took her place on the podium.
The ceremony was one of Ms. Lam’s first official duties as Field Office Director—she just assumed office in June. She first joined USCIS as an Immigration Services Officer at the San Jose Field Office in 2015, rising to a supervisory rank in January of 2023.
As Ms. Lam read the countries represented in the crowd, the soon-to-be citizens stood. The countries represented were Algeria, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey, Rwanda, United Kingdom, and Vietnam. Once all were standing, she administered the Oath of Allegiance.
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”
At 10:19am, the Hornet welcomed 76 smiling faces as newly minted US citizens.
Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft delivered the keynote address. As the granddaughter of Syrian and Lebanese immigrants, Mayor Ashcraft spoke of her family experience, and that of the immigrant experience in America saying, “Our American journey, our success would not be possible without generations of immigrants who have come to our shores from every corner of the globe.” She encouraged each new citizen to register to vote and closed by saying “I am so proud of the courage and determination it took for you to become US citizens.”
In an emotional moment, new citizen Victalina Berkland was chosen to lead the assembly in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The Honduran native admitted that she was nervous but said, “I was excited. What a privilege. I’ve got goosebumps.”
The State Department’s Chris Barcelona, Assistant Director of the San Francisco Passport Agency administered the Passport Oath. Afterwards, the colors were retired by the Sea Cadets, and Ellen Jenkins closed the ceremony by reminding participants that the USS Hornet had granted them a free future visit for these newest Americans and their families.
The citizens then posed for pictures, toured the hangar deck, registered to vote with the Alameda County Registrar, signed up for their first passports as Americans, and headed off to celebrate what will likely be a truly unforgettable Independence Day.
Scott Piehler hosts and produces Alameda’s only weekly news digest podcast, the Alameda PostCast. Reach him at [email protected].
