Flag Raising to kick off a month-long series of events in celebration of Hispanic Heritage throughout Union County
Union County, NJ – The Board of County Commissioners reminds residents about the first annual Union County Hispanic Heritage Flag Raising Ceremony on Wednesday, September 15 at 5:30p.m, on the steps of the Union County Courthouse located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. The event is free and all residents are invited to attend.
“Raising the Hispanic Heritage flag for the first time at the County Courthouse is our way of recognizing the contributions made by the Hispanic community living and working in Union County,” said County Commissioner Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “We are proud to be one of the most diverse counties in New Jersey and continue to work to promote unity.”
“Union County has over a half million residents and approximately one third of them claim Hispanic origin. Being of Salvadorian descent, I am proud to be one of almost 200,000 Hispanic residents that make Union County a better, more diverse place to live,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados. “The Hispanic community has for many years been a pillar of this country’s growth and development and their role right here in Union County continues to be just as impactful. We have been working towards this flag raising since my chairmanship in 2018, when Union County hosted the first ever Hispanic Heritage Month event. I am happy that after some postponing due to COVID-19, we are finally able to unify the various Hispanic ethnicities within our community under one flag as we come together for a month of celebration.”
“As a Cuban-American, I am proud to serve in a County with such a strong Hispanic presence,” said Commissioner Lourdes Leon. “We look forward to celebrating with everyone at this history-making event.”
The program for the event will include remarks from guest speaker Carlos Medina, Esq., President/CEO of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, as well as a performance by bongo player Francisco Garcia, the unveiling of the Union County Hispanic Heritage Month flag, free giveaways and more.
“As the recent census confirms Hispanic Americans are making an impact in NJ. We are 21.6% of the population and own over 120,000 businesses that contribute 20 billion dollars annually to the NJ economy,” said Carlos Medina. “I am proud to speak at the Hispanic Heritage Flag raising to honor what this community means not only to the State’s economy but also to the rich diverse fabric of our state.”
The flag raising is the first in a series of scheduled events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. The full schedule of events includes:
- September 15, 5:30 p.m. – First Hispanic Heritage Flag Raising – Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth
- October 1, 6:00 p.m. – Family Movie Night Double Feature (Ferdinand & In The Heights) – Plainfield High School Parking Lot, 950 Park Ave, Plainfield
- October 3, 1:00 p.m. – Union County Hispanic Heritage Family Fun Day – Rahway River Park (Pool Area), 3 Parkway Drive, Rahway
- October 16, 3:00 p.m. – Union County Hispanic Heritage Concert in the Park – Warinanco Park Skating Rink Parking Lot, Roselle
Residents are encouraged to wear masks or practice social distancing in order to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
For more information regarding the Hispanic Heritage month and related events, please contact Nathalie Alcaide-Hernandez by email at nahernandez@ucnj.org or by phone at 908-527-4880.
For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.
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