The public is invited to attend the 11 a.m. citizenship ceremony at the Mount Tahoma High School Auditorium, 4634 S. 74th Street, Tacoma on Sept. 22.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day are observed in September to commemorate the signing of the Constitution and “recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.” This commemoration had its origin in 1940, when Congress passed a joint resolution designating this day as “I Am An American Day.”

Until recently, the people of Pierce County have travelled to Seattle for their citizenship ceremony. For a second consecutive year, Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson spearheaded the effort to bring the citizenship celebration back to the South Sound.

“Pierce County is proud of each and every immigrant and refugee who makes the tremendous effort to complete the naturalization process. We embrace these new citizens and voters and want to honor them right here in Pierce County,” she said.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Field Office Director Linda Dougherty added: “United by our devotion to the Constitution and to the civic engagement it inspires, Americans remain committed to the fundamental principles established over 200 years ago.”

More than 100 immigrants are expected to participate and become American citizens. Together with their family members and supporters, nearly 500 people are expected to attend. Pocket-sized books of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights will be given away with American flags.

The Pierce County Auditor’s Office has worked with the following organizations to bring this federal ceremony to Pierce County: Centro Latino; Daughters of the American Revolution; Korean Women’s Association; MSM – Multicultural Self-Sufficiency Movement; OneAmerica; Washington Secretary of State’s Office; Tacoma Community House; U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS). More information is available here.