The United States District Court for the District of Kansas held proceedings for the Naturalization Ceremony of new citizens on Friday morning, September 21, 2018, at Memorial Hall in Fort Scott.

Speakers for the ceremony included local dignitaries Carl Brenner, Chief of Interpretation at Fort Scott National Historic Site; Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin; Magistrate Teresa James; and local attorney Robert Farmer.

The ceremony in years past has been held on the grounds of the Fort Scott National Historic Site, but rainy weather forced a change of venue.

The Honorable Teresa J. James presided over the ceremony with the Clerk of the Court, Timothy M. O’Brien.

Fort Scott High School Orchestra and Choir provided the musical entertainment including the “Star Spangled Banner”, the “Song for the Unsung Hero” and “America the Beautiful”.

Following the ceremony, the new citizens had the opportunity to register to vote at a booth at Memorial Hall.

Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site provided a lunch at the Fort’s Grand Hall, feeding 166 people, including new citizens and their families.