Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that for the first time, the County will raise the Portuguese Flag in commemoration of the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Communities. The event will take place on Thursday, May 30 at 6:30pm in front of the Union County Court House, located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. The event is free and all residents are invited to attend.
The event is being co-sponsored by the Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS). PALCUS is a national non-profit based in the Washington D.C. area with a defined mission to be the national voice that advocates for and promotes the advancement of the Portuguese-American community economically, professionally, culturally and politically.
“Union County is home to over 18,000 Portuguese-Americans,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board is proud to acknowledge the contributions of this very active and hard-working community to our county over the years, by flying the Portuguese Flag over the County Seat for the first time.”
The Portuguese-American Community will be celebrating what has come to be known as “Portugal Day” throughout the month of June with various celebrations in several municipalities. Festivities include parades, outdoor festivals with food and ethnic dance, bike tours, golf tournaments and fishing derbies.
“Our County is made stronger by its diversity and inclusion. I invite all residents from the County of Union to participate in, and support this first ever Union County Portuguese Flag Raising,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados. “As a Freeholder of Portuguese descent, I am especially proud of the accomplishments of the Portuguese-American community across the country and especially within Union County. This flag raising brings together the Portuguese Community across the County to showcase our pride and unity.”
The flag-raising will include ethnic dance, and the singing of both “The Star Spangled Banner” as well as “A Portuguesa,” the national anthem of Portugal.
“PALCUS is grateful to have been given the opportunity to co-sponsor the first Portuguese Flag raising in Union County,” said PALCUS Vice-Chair Katherine Soares. “We strive to give a voice to the 1.34 million Portuguese-Americans in the United States. Events such as these are yet another form of allowing them to be heard.”
For more information, please contact Katherine Soares from the Union County Office of Communications and Public Information at katherine.soares@ucnj.org.
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