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Putnam County ceremony swears in new U.S. citizens; local officials and a transplant recipient urge civic participation
Summary
At a Putnam County naturalization ceremony, candidates recited the Oath of Allegiance as local dignitaries were introduced. Speakers urged new citizens to register to vote, serve on juries and consider civic engagement; a transplant recipient shared a personal story about organ donation.
At a naturalization ceremony in Putnam County, candidates took the Oath of Allegiance and were officially welcomed as U.S. citizens. Local officials and community speakers — including a double-organ transplant recipient — addressed the group and urged participation in civic duties such as voter registration and jury service.
The ceremony opened with a welcome and introductions. The host read a list of dignitaries in attendance, identifying Michael Orillotti as the county district attorney; Dana Lederberg and Frank Garcia as representatives connected to New York State Assembly offices; Kathy Croft and Kevin Primavera as officials linked to elections administration; Paul Rode as director of the Putnam County Veterans Service Agency; and a retired jurist, identified in the program as Judge Rumi. The host then invited Pastor Andrew Columbia of Mount Carmel Baptist Church to deliver an invocation.
"We thank you for the diverse backgrounds, talents, and stories represented here," the pastor said in the invocation, asking for blessings on the new citizens and leaders. After the prayer, Holly Tanner — introduced as the Columbia County clerk — congratulated the candidates and said she had driven from her county to witness the ceremony, noting it was her second time attending such an event and welcoming the new citizens "with open arms."
The presiding official administered the Oath of Allegiance. During the oath the candidates recited phrases including, "I hereby declare on oath... that I absolutely and entirely renounce... all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty," and promised to "support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America." The official also reminded the new citizens of civic responsibilities that accompany citizenship.
Ariana Aloco, identified as a high school student invited to participate, and Lauren Shields, introduced as community and government affairs liaison for LiveOn New York and a double-organ transplant recipient, offered personal remarks. Shields described her own transplant experience and thanked the donor family: "I had an angel, a 4 year old boy from Illinois... your child still lives on with another," she said, and encouraged attendees to consider organ donation as a way to give back.
The ceremony concluded with a final reminder from the host that citizenship brings obligations as well as rights: register to vote, respond to jury summonses and engage in community life. The event ended with congratulations to the newly naturalized citizens and attendees were thanked for joining the celebration.
