[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17131]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE NEW BEDFORD WHALING MUSEUM AND THE WILLIAM M. 
                            WOOD FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2012

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the New Bedford 
Whaling Museum and the William M. Wood Foundation for their 
collaboration in celebrating the history of Cape Verdean and Azorean 
culture in southeastern Massachusetts.
   Our nations' histories are forever interwoven, as the ancestors of 
todays Azorean--and Cape Verdean-American families remain an integral 
part of Massachusetts' economic prosperity. Many of these immigrants 
were first drawn to New England's ports on whaling and fishing vessels 
in the early nineteenth century, often finding work in the region's 
nearby cranberry bogs. Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts are home 
to the fastest growing Cape Verdean and Azorean communities in the 
United States.
   Today, it is estimated that over 40% of the southeastern 
Massachusetts population are of Portuguese descent. The strong 
influence that the Cape Verdean and Azorean cultures have had on our 
local community cannot be understated, and it is essential that we 
honor and celebrate this important part of southeastern Massachusetts 
culture.
   In keeping with this spirit the William M. Wood Foundation has 
generously approved a $300,000 grant to support the initiatives at the 
New Bedford Whaling Museum geared toward preserving the history of 
Azorean and Cape Verdean communities in southeastern Massachusetts. 
Among other things, this grant will support a major traveling exhibit 
detailing the lives of Azorean and Cape Verdean whalers that will make 
an appearance at various coastal communities throughout New England. 
Additional community events will be supported by this funding, 
including an international symposium on the history of Azorean and Cape 
Verdean immigration in Massachusetts that will be held at the Museum.
   In order to ensure that Cape Verdean and Azorean culture is not only 
preserved but celebrated in southeastern Massachusetts, I have worked 
closely with many local and international officials, including Cape 
Verdean President Jorge Carlos Fonseca, Cape Verdean Prime Minister 
Jose Maria Neves, and President of the Regional Government of the 
Azores Vasco Cordeiro. It gives me great pride to work with these 
individuals and to see such strong support for honoring Azorean and 
Cape Verdean culture in southeastern Massachusetts. The funding given 
by the William M. Wood Foundation will establish a strong base as we 
move forward, and we envision many more opportunities for collaboration 
in the future.
   Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the New Bedford Whaling 
Museum and the William M. Wood Foundation as they join together to 
celebrate the history of Azorean and Cape Verdean culture in 
southeastern Massachusetts. I thank my colleagues for joining me in 
recognition of these organizations for celebrating such an important 
aspect of Massachusetts history.

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