The Gateway to Citizenship

JK 1758

A 3145 1956

PREFACE

Gateway to Citizenship is a manual designed to assist naturalization courts, bar associations, civic and educational leaders, patriotic organizations, and individuals in adding to the dignity of the ceremonies surrounding the admission to citizenship and in emphasizing the significance and importance of citizenship. The manual is an official publication of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. It was initiated, however, by the National Citizenship Education Program and was originally prepared by Carl B. Hyatt, formerly an Assistant Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, with the cooperation of various committees, including the Attorney General's Advisory Committee on Citizenship and the committees on American Citizenship of both the American Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association. It is in no sense a collection of directives. Rather it is a series of suggestions, ideas, and materials gathered from a survey of practices all over the country.

The original edition of Gateway to Citizenship was prepared primarily for use in connection with naturalization ceremonies. Subsequent editions have been expanded to include materials helpful in planning for the annual celebration of Citizenship Day and for other patriotic programs. In the present edition effort has been made to simplify the text, and references to later material have been incorporated.

Grateful acknowledgement is made to all organizations and individuals for their cooperation in the preparation of Gateway to Citizenship and for their permission to use certain material in this volume. It is sincerely hoped that this manual will continue to be of use to the courts engaged in naturalization work and to all individuals and organizations in planning programs for patriotic occasions.

Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization.