Southport Magazine

Jeffery Sapko, Director USCIS Field Office Durham, administering the Oath of Citizenship at the 2010 Naturalization Ceremony, held in partnership with the US Department of Homeland Security’s United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Photo by John Muuss.

*The event has been moved to inside the Southport Community Building. The new location of the ceremony is due to the inclement weather expected from Tropical Storm Arthur. 

What: Naturalization Ceremony
When: Thursday, July 3rd
4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Southport Community Building
223 E. Bay St.
Cost: Free
Info: www.nc4thofjuly.com
(910) 457-5578

For Independence Day in the United States, there are things Americans are sure to see and do to commemorate the national holiday. There will be fireworks, cookouts, outdoor games and activities, the American flag and patriotic songs.  However, for dozens of families attending the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony in Southport on July 3rd, the meaning of Fourth of July goes beyond hotdogs and hamburgers.

There are 120 candidates expected to take the Oath of Citizenship at this year’s ceremony that is held annually on Fort Johnston Garrison’s Lawn, overlooking the beautiful Southport waterfront.

Part of Southport’s famous NC Fourth of July festival since 1996, the ceremony serves as a reminder to everyone participating in the event of the true meaning of the freedom and independence the holiday observes. For the Americans-to-be it marks the end of a long and tedious journey towards citizenship that requires an abundance of patience, hard work and perseverance.

Last year the ceremony garnered over 100 new citizens representing 48 countries and seven regions from around the world, the most claiming Mexico as their home country.

This year’s ceremony will follow a similar structure to the event in years past—something that is important to Ted and Fran Carlsen, co-chairs of the ceremony.  “We try to keep it as traditional as possible because the focus is of the swearing in and the naturalization papers to the new citizens,” Ted informs.

He and his wife, Fran, have been co-chairing the ceremony since 2004, and according to Fran it is a responsibility the couple took on unwittingly at first.

New to the area and wanting to get involved, Fran agreed to help the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) organize that year’s naturalization ceremony.  At the next meeting the DAR surprised Fran by introducing her as the previous chair’s replacement.  Fran says her husband “graciously” consented to help her with the event, and they have been working together on the annual project ever since.

While the Carlsens believe it is important to keep the same traditions in each year’s ceremony, the event does not fail to give them a sense of fulfillment each time a group of new citizens takes the oath.  “It gives me a lot of pleasure to watch when they become citizens,” Fran describes. “Some of them can hardly wait until they get that piece of paper that says they are a citizen.”

The new citizens represent 46 countries. The largest number of new citizens, 14, originates from Mexico, with another 12 from India and five each from Egypt, Peoples Republic of China and the Philippines. Among our new fellow citizens nearly 30 percent immigrated from Asia, just over 19 percent from Central America & the Caribbean region, over 18 percent from Africa, 14 percent from North America (including Mexico), over 5 percent from South America, and nearly 2 percent from the Middle East. Among the total there are five families, three from India, and one each from Congo-Kinshasa and Mexico, scheduled to take their oaths of citizenship. This year’s candidates also include four active duty US Marines, seven military spouses, and one US Army veteran.

Directly after the ceremony the new citizens have a chance to gather in the Southport Community Building for a reception hosted by the DAR. The Brunswick County Board of Elections also will be there for the new citizens to begin voter registration. The ability to vote and have an active voice in local and national elections is something new citizens look forward to most.

Several Southport organizations get involved with the ceremony, taking pride in the tradition by offering their services to the celebration. The Brunswick Concert Band precedes the ceremony with musical entertainment at 3 p.m., while the Southport community choir will sing two patriotic songs upon the official start at 4 p.m. The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard will be on-hand to display the colors of the United States and North Carolina.

Dolly Witt, Retired US Air Force, was chosen by Fran herself to sing the national anthem. After hearing her sing in Wilmington months ago, Fran approached Dolly and implored she perform the national anthem at the naturalization ceremony. The ceremony will end with cannons administered by the 13th Battalion NC Artillery Reenactment Group.

The USCIS Naturalization Ceremony is free for all to attend. For more information, visit www.nc4thofjuly.com.