Portuguese Day 2002

Next Page  

The Celebration started at John Perry Memorial where Lillian Paiva, niece of John Perry spoke on the behalf of the Perry family. Then following  mass at the  Immaculate Heart of Mary church the marchers of Portuguese heritage and pride accompanied by extravagant floats set off from the Immaculate Heart of Mary church on Deer Hill Avenue and made their way to the flag pole at West and Main Street.  There both the American and Portuguese flags were raised and Mayor Mark Boughton read a proclamation and U.S. Rep. James Maloney, D-5th Dist., called the Portuguese a "pillar of the greater Danbury area".  The parade then continued to Portuguese square where awards were presented to Jorge Almeida and Charles Frosch.  The festivities continued throughout the day at the Portuguese Cultural Center with performances from various local folklore dance groups of all ages, a soccer game, food and entertainment, closing with skydivers jumping from a helicopter with the American and Portuguese flags attached to themselves.  David Cappiello best sums up the day in saying; "God must have some Portuguese blood in him, because every year it's a beautiful day", as it was again this year.