Anne Silbernagel is coordinator of the New Citizen Ceremony for NSCDA-WV, a part of Patriotic Services. The official name for the ceremony is Naturalization and Constitution Day. The Colonial Dames, Daughters of the American Revolution, and veterans organizations prepare welcome packets for each new citizen, which are distributed at the end of the ceremony.

New American Citizen Report (Naturalization)

By Anne Silbernagel

The first Naturalization Ceremony for new citizens in West Virginia for 2020 was held on Monday, January 13 at 11 a.m. on the seventh floor of the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse at 300  Virginia Street East in Charleston.  Chief Judge Thomas E. Johnston of the U.S. District Court presided.  Sixty applicants attended. Colonial Dames packets were distributed to the new citizens.  At this inspiring event, a new citizen tells his or her own story about becoming a new citizen. Judge Johnston also asks one or two of the candidates to briefly talk about their journey to citizenship. The ceremony is an inspiring event and many of the new citizens have tears streaming down heir faces.