[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S8521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                SEVENTH ANNUAL CHINESE HERITAGE FESTIVAL

 Mr. BRADLEY. Mr. President, our country is a remarkable 
mosaic--a mixture of races, languages, ethnicities and religions--that 
grows increasingly diverse with each passing year. Nowhere is this 
incredible diversity more evident than in the State of New Jersey. In 
New Jersey, schoolchildren come from families that speak 120 different 
languages at home. These different languages are used in over 1.4 
million homes in my State. I have always believed that one of the 
United States greatest strengths is the diversity of the people that 
make up its citizenry and I am proud to call the attention of my 
colleagues to an event in New Jersey that celebrates the importance of 
the diversity that is a part of America's collective heritage.
  On June 4, 1995, the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey 
began its 1995 Spring Heritage Festival Series. This Heritage Festival 
program salutes many of the different ethnic communities that 
contribute so greatly to New Jersey's diverse makeup. Highlighting old 
country customs and culture, the festival programs are an opportunity 
to express pride in the ethnic backgrounds that are a part of our 
collective heritage. Additionally, the Spring Heritage Festivals will 
contribute proceeds from their programs to the Garden State Arts 
Center's Cultural Center Fund which presents theater productions free-
of-charge to New Jersey's schoolchildren, seniors and other deserving 
residents. The Heritage Festival thus not only pays tribute to the 
cultural influences from our past, it also makes a significant 
contribution to our present day cultural activities.
  On Saturday, June 17, 1995, the Heritage Festival Series will 
celebrate the 7th Annual Chinese Heritage Festival. Cochaired by 
Margaret Ko Ma of Murray Hill and Chia Wang Whitehouse of Freehold, 
this year's event promises to be a grand celebration alive with 
colorful costumes, traditional foods, ethnic arts and crafts and 
talented entertainers of Chinese descent. The day-long event will 
feature a martial arts display by the Shaolin Hung School, as well as 
traditional flower, lion and drum dancers and music from China will 
highlight the artistic program. Mall activities will also include an 
arts and crafts exhibit, vendors selling Chinese food and a fine arts 
exhibit will feature both traditional and modern Chinese art.
  On behalf of all New Jerseyans of Chinese descent, I offer my 
congratulations on the 7th anniversary of the Chinese Heritage 
Festival.


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