YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Yellowstone National Park is many things: The world’s first national park, home to geysers, bison, grizzly bears and wolves.
On Thursday, it also became home to more than three dozen new citizens.
In the shadow of the Roosevelt Arch in Gardiner, 41 people from more than 20 countries, including Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, El Salvador and Germany, took the oath of citizenship, completing the final step of their journey to become U.S. citizens on Thursday morning.
“Yellowstone is the first birthplace of the first national park in the world, and it is a place where people come from all over to see and explore America. Now you have come here to become Americans,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick said.
The ceremony, which has been held at Yellowstone semi-regularly since 2014, opened with members of Gardiner High School’s Future Farmers of America presenting the American flag. That was followed by the national anthem, performed by Ranger Camden Hunt, before Yellowstone Deputy Superintendent Mike Tranel took the stage to commend the country’s newest citizens.
“I’m very impressed with the work that you’ve done, the learning that you’ve done to be here,” Tranel said. “My hope is that you will continue to learn about your new country and that you will contribute in your own unique way.”
Becoming a U.S. citizen requires completing a 10-step naturalization process that can take anywhere from several months to more than a year. Applicants must file Form N-400, attend an interview and pass an exam that includes an English proficiency assessment and a civics test.
After passing the exam, most applicants take the Oath of Allegiance the same day. However, special ceremonies, such as the one at Yellowstone, are held at historic and symbolic sites through a partnership between the National Park Service and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. These events highlight the connection between America’s public lands and the nation’s history.
“In becoming United States citizens today, as the judge mentioned earlier, you inherit not only Yellowstone National Park, but an entire system of 433 national parks,” Tranel said. “We thank you in advance for continuing to learn, for continuing to do the work, and for what each of you will contribute to a strong and United United States of America.”
The incoming citizens were then led through the Oath of Allegiance by Hambrick before receiving citizenship certificates.
Many of those in attendance came from nearby communities in Montana and neighboring states, including Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho. For others, the ceremony represented a long-awaited milestone.
For Julio Martinez, originally from Mexico City and now living in Colorado after more than 25 years in the U.S., the event felt like an overdue homecoming.
“I feel happy to officially become part of this beautiful country,” Martinez said. “I pretty much finished growing up here. I got here when I was 20 and have been living here since.”
Gallatin County resident Justine Swanson shared similar feelings.
“I’ve been here for 13 years, but my husband and my three children are all Americans, and now I get to be an American, too,” Swanson said.
Even with Yellowstone practically in her backyard, Swanson, originally from Canada and the county’s chief financial officer, said the park added a special dimension to the ceremony that a traditional courtroom setting could not.
“We spend as a family lots of time in the park, camping and enjoying it. So I thought that was special to have that opportunity,” she said.
For Swanson, the decision to pursue citizenship, prompted in part by her green card expiring next month, went beyond gaining the full protections of being an American. It will also allow her to participate in what she considers one of the most important civic duties.
“I think this is the better route to go, so that I can vote in this country,” she said. “There’s a lot of important things going on in our country, and I think everyone’s voice should be heard, and now mine can be heard too.”
Lilly Keller can be reached at lkeller@dailychronicle.com.
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