WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, July 7, 2008, USA Freedom Corps, the National Park Service, American Recreation Coalition and Task Force on New Americans will launch a new public-private partnership, This Land is Your Land, to engage more new Americans in volunteer and recreation opportunities, particularly in America’s National Parks.

During the event on Ellis Island, one of the 391 National Park sites, 20 individuals will take the Oath of Allegiance to become naturalized American citizens. Upon naturalization, new citizens are granted the right to ownership of these federally managed lands and the shared responsibility to preserve these national treasures for generations to come.

Joined by Cokie Roberts, member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation; Mary Bomar, National Park Service Director and the first naturalized citizen to hold this position; Sam Solomon, President & CEO, Coleman Co., and other public- and private-sector leaders, the event will encourage more civic engagement among America’s newest citizens and foster a greater sense of ownership in our public lands.

MONDAY, JULY 7, 2008

WHO:

• Cokie Roberts, President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation
• Andrea Quarantillo, New York District Field Office Director, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Alison Young, Special Assistant to the President, The White House, USA Freedom Corps
• Cynthia Garrett, Superintendent, Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island
• Mary Bomar, Director, National Park Service
• Sam Solomon, President & CEO, The Coleman Company, Inc.

WHAT:

Launch of This Land is Your Land Partnership and Naturalization Ceremony for New Americans

WHERE:

Ellis Island
Great Hall

WHEN:

Monday, July 7, 2008
10:30 a.m. EDT

NOTE: Registration is required for members of the media who would like to take the National Park Service staff boat from Lower Manhattan or, if coming from New Jersey, the access bridge to Ellis Island from Liberty State Park. To register to take the staff boat or Ellis Island access bridge, please contact Mindi Rambo at Mindi_Rambo@nps.gov or (646) 341-2825 with your name, media outlet, and preference to take the NPS staff boat from Manhattan or the access bridge from New Jersey. Please report to either location no later than 9:45 a.m. EDT on July 7.

For all other event and logistical inquiries, please contact Rebecca Neale at (202) 494-6906.

In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on all Americans to make a difference in their communities and across the globe through volunteer service. He created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House, to help Americans answer his Call to Service. Visit www.volunteer.gov or call 1-877-USA-CORPS to find an existing volunteer service opportunity and to find more information about volunteer service programs.

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