Lost River Cave hosts naturalization ceremony for 17 citizenship candidates
BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- Wednesday, June 17, Lost River Cave held its first naturalization ceremony presided over by the Western District of Kentucky and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
17 candidates prepared and were sworn in as American citizens. Out of the 17 new citizens, they were from 13 different countries. Friends and family watched as each person swore the Oath of Allegiance and was congratulated individually by United States Magistrate Judge H. Brent Brennenstuhl before being officially welcomed as citizens.
The event held different emotions for each person, but for Dhwani Shah, the day was filled with excitement and joy.
“It means a lot emotionally because, now I feel like I belong to two countries, not just one.” Shah said. “I feel like an American from inside, you know, a lot. I know, like, you know, ins and outs. I know the locals. I like, you know, I just get the people who are, like, a melting pot, and I feel like I belong here.”
This event was held in the Lost River Cave nightclub, which has been around since the 1930’s. Lost River Cave CEO Justin Jennings hopes to host more naturalization ceremonies in the future.
“So we were actually, approached by a local judge who asked if, we wanted to be the host for this. He knew that they had done it at Mammoth Cave a couple times before. But being able to hold it here in Bowling Green, was special.” Jennings said.
After giving the oath and receiving their new documentation, the new citizens recited the pledge of allegiance for the first time as new American citizens. The ceremony concluded with Judge H. Brent Brennenstuhl congratulating the new citizens.
