YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — It’s 11 a.m. and the Honorable Stephanie Hambrick, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Wyoming, called a formal court proceeding into order.
It was a well-attended hearing held outdoors with 41 people from 25 countries assembled Thursday to take the final steps of their multi-year journeys to become United States citizens.
Rather than sitting in a courtroom, the ceremony was held in Arch Park just outside the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana. The iconic Roosevelt Arch overlooked the proceedings with its signature stoic message, “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People,” clearly visible to everyone.
“Yellowstone is the first national park in the world, and it is a place where people from all over the country come to see and explore America,” Hambrick said. “Now, you have come here to become Americans.”
Olga Wimkle began the ceremony an immigrant in the U.S. from Ukraine and was all smiles as the ceremony progressed, ending with her finishing it with the next part of her American dream realized as a citizen of the United States of America.
“I came with honest intentions to this country,” she said. “I have nothing to hide or be afraid of. I just applied to be an American. I feel very American.”
Judge Stephanie Hambrick addresses the crowd gathered at Arch Park in Gardiner, Montana. (Andrew Rossi, Cowboy State Daily) 
It was a clear, sunny day for a naturalization ceremony at Yellowstone. (Andrew Rossi, Cowboy State Daily)
Ceremony Of Citizenship
After a presentation of colors by the Yellowstone National Park Mounted Color Guard and singing of the national anthem, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes made a motion for the Naturalization of the Petitioners.
“Each of these individuals has been interviewed and examined under oath by a designated examiner of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service,” she said “Each of these individuals has met all the requirements for naturalization and is well-qualified as a desirable candidate for U.S. citizenship.”
With her motion, the 41 petitioners stood and repeated the oath of allegiance.
The first speaker after the oath was President Joe Biden, via a recorded message. He applauded their courage to take the journey and said they earned the title of citizen, one equal to that of the President of the United States of America.
Mike Tranel, deputy superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, presented each of the new citizens with a quarter handed out by the officers of the Gardiner High School Student Council. The back of each quarter had an image of one of the 63 national park units.
Tranel encouraged them to visit the park depicted on their quarter. As new citizens, they now are part-owners of the national parks, which are the property of the American people.
“All of you have a similar story about your journey to becoming a United States citizen. You’ve overcome challenges and demonstrated courage,” he said. “We welcome and congratulate you, and we thank you in advance for what you will bring to our diverse nation.”
Every face was filled with joy and accomplishment as the petitioners received their citizenship certificate. As they returned to their seats, they searched the crowd for the cameras pointed in their direction by family and friends who attended. Then, everyone in Arch Park joined the new citizens as they said the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time.
Judge Hambrick was the last speaker at the ceremony. In addition to more congratulations, she spoke about what sets the American experience apart from the other nations of the world.
“You can go to many countries around the world and become a citizen. You may become a citizen of France, but that does not make you French. You can go to Germany, but that does not make you German. But when you come to America and become a citizen, you become American,” she said.
Building A Better Nation
The new American citizens rushed to embrace their families. Nearly everyone had a significant other or children waiting for them, the lives they’d already built in the United States.
Jodi Bard, field office director with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, told Cowboy State Daily the Yellowstone naturalization ceremony is always her favorite. There couldn’t be a more picturesque place to become a U.S. citizen.
After watching these new citizens of the United States finish their journey, Bard had a message for all citizens.
“Don’t take advantage of being a citizen by birth,” she said. “Take those steps to improve our communities and our United States. (These citizens) bringing their small businesses and culture here with them is doing nothing but helping the United States.”
Everyone was also invited onto the stage to take a photo with the American flag, which had officially become their flag. Wimkle was among them, and she left the ceremony eager to continue a better life for herself and her new nation.
“I love this country, and I’d like to make it better in the way that I can,” she said. As the judge said, “this could be something political or an entrepreneur. I can build a strong family. I can be a good neighbor. I can be an honest person in this country.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
