[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 18, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE FIRST NATIONAL PUERTO RICAN PARADE

                                 ______


                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 18, 1996

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy that I rise today to 
pay tribute to an historic event, the first National Puerto Rican 
Parade which was held on June 9, in New York City.
  As a Puerto Rican, a New Yorker, and a Member of Congress, it was an 
honor to participate in this national parade in which thousands of 
Puerto Ricans marched in celebration of our culture and achievements in 
this country.
  I was 7 years old when my family moved from Puerto Rico to the Bronx 
in search of employment opportunities and a brighter future.
  Leaving the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, its music, its 
traditions, and its people was no easy task for those who were born on 
the Caribbean island.
  In 1958, my father and I had the opportunity to celebrate our culture 
during the first Hispanic parade of New York City. As we cheered 
participants, my father quickly unfolded a Puerto Rican flag to show 
his love and pride for his heritage.
  Two years later, the Hispanic parade became the New York Puerto Rican 
Parade. From that day on, once every year, Puerto Ricans and friends of 
the Puerto Rican community from all of the 50 States and the island 
come to New York City to celebrate our heritage.
  This year, for the first time in its 39 years of history, the parade 
has been recognized as a national event--the largest and most colorful 
celebration of Puerto Rican heritage in this Nation.
  On this occasion, members of the Puerto Rican community will march 
along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to reaffirm our identity and pride of 
our heritage. Among many other achievements, Puerto Ricans have been 
instrumental in transforming New York City into a great bilingual city.
  Dr. Ricardo Alegria, a distinguished Puerto Rican anthropologist led 
the parade of thousands of participants. Dr. Alegria is internationally 
renown as an eminence in the restoration of historic cities, for his 
anthropological and archaeological studies on Puerto Rico and the 
Caribbean, as well as for his patronage of the arts.

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