The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to the annual Union County Portuguese Flag raising ceremony in commemoration of the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Communities. The event will take place on Thursday, June 2nd at 6:00 p.m. in front of the Union County Court House, located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. The event is free for all to attend.
“New Jersey is home to almost 80,000 people who identify as Portuguese descent and approximately 20,000 of those people call Union County their home,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “The Commissioner Board is proud to acknowledge the contributions of this very active and hard-working community to our county over the years. We are thrilled that we can once again recognize the Portuguese community as we raise the Portuguese flag over the County Seat.”
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.
“As a Commissioner of Portuguese descent, I am especially proud of the accomplishments of the Portuguese-American community across the country and especially within Union County,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados. “Our County is made stronger by its diversity and inclusion. This flag raising once again brings together our Portuguese Community at a County level, as we return to our annual traditions and celebrations, giving us a chance to once again showcase our hard work, pride and unity.”
The flag-raising will include a short speaking program as well as the singing of both “The Star Spangled Banner” as well as “A Portuguesa,” the national anthem of Portugal.
“PALCUS is grateful to once again co-sponsor the annual Portuguese Flag raising in Union County,” said PALCUS Chair and Union County resident, 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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