History Talks: Military Service and the Path to American Citizenship
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
The promise of the American Dream—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—has inspired people from all corners of the globe to make their home in the land of the free. For many immigrants, military service has provided an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to their adopted homeland. In response, during numerous periods of American history, individuals who honorably served and sacrificed with the U.S. military have been granted special pathways to naturalized citizenship in recognition of their service.
Ford’s Theatre welcomes historians Dr. Allison S. Finkelstein from Arlington National Cemetery and Zack Wilske from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to delve into the citizenship stories of specific service members from the Civil War, WWI and WWII who are interred in Arlington National Cemetery. These powerful narratives highlight the unique intersection between military service and the journey to American citizenship. Join us as we reflect on the lasting impact of these courageous individuals and their contributions to the fabric of our nation.
This program is part of History Talks, a webinar series that investigates facets of Abraham Lincoln’s complex legacy and its relevance to today. These engaging talks, designed for history enthusiasts of all ages, feature compelling visuals with content experts delving into Lincoln’s legacy and the world of Civil War Washington.
Allison S. Finkelstein earned her Ph.D. in U.S. History from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she also studied historic preservation. She currently serves as Senior Historian at Arlington National Cemetery. Dr. Finkelstein previously worked as a historian for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services History Office and Library and as a Historical Consultant at both the American Battle Monuments Commission and the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration Office. As a public historian, her projects have included the creation of museum exhibits, publications, interpretive programs, education programs, documentary films, webinars, tours, and narration for military processions.
Zack Wilske is the Senior Historian for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). He has worked in the USCIS History Office and Library since 2002. His research interests include the history of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the development of federal immigration and nationality policies, and the uses of INS records for historians and genealogists. He speaks regularly at genealogy and academic conferences, has published articles on researching with INS records, and has served as the President of the Society for History in Federal Government (SHFG). He received history degrees from St. Ambrose University (Davenport, Iowa) and the University of Maryland.
This program was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [MA-252940-OMS-23].