Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on July 31, 2022

Cabo Verde mayor salutes fallen Cape Verdean American veterans

Mayor Miguel Rosa of Maio, Cabo Verde, pays respects to fallen Cape Verdean American veterans while visiting New Bedford on Thursday, July 28.

Standard-Times

NEW BEDFORD Dozens gathered at the Cape Verdean American Veterans Hall on Purchase Street Thursday to greet a delegation from the Cabo Verdean island of Maio.

Miguel Rosa, the mayor of Maio, visited as part of a tour of local Cape Verdean communities.

"You guys just received us with what in Portuguese we call calor humano(human warmth or affection)," he said. "We are here and we are learning so much from you."

The ceremonies began around 6:45. with a ceremony at the memorial stele to Cape Verdean Americans who have fallen in U.S. wars.

Rosa presented a bouquet for the stele before both the U.S. and Cabo Verdean national anthems were sung by Andrea Charpentier and Candida Rose respectively.

Once inside, city councilors Shane Burgo and Derek Baptiste, both of Cabo Verdean descent, shared some opening remarks before opening the buffet line.

"We have to have more togetherness with Cape Verdeans from the islands and Cape Verdeans from America," Baptiste said. "If we don't, we're going to lose our community and our culture."

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Cabo Verdeans have had a presence in New Bedford since the 19th Century, when whaling vessels would often stop by the archipelago then under Portuguese rule to pick up new crew members.

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A brisk trade between the islands and New Bedford then ensued. After the archipelago's independence from Portugal in 1975, the connections continued.

Rosa said that keeping those connections alive was a major motive behind his visit.

"We need to keep in touch with our diaspora," he said. "We know that there's a lot of people who are third generation now and it's so important to talk to the diaspora not just for money but to visit [Cabo Verde].

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"People from different walks of life in the diaspora have massive amounts of knowledge in nursing, teaching, engineering, architecture ... We need these experts and guys who can help us down in our island.

On Wednesday, Rosa visited the Cabo Verdean community in East Providence, Rhode Island, and met with that city's mayor, Robert DaSilva.

Rosa also visited Brockton before coming to New Bedford.

Contact Kevin G. Andrade at kandrade@s-t.com and follow him on Twitter: @KevinGAndrade. Support local journalism and subscribe to the Standard-Times today!

Original post:

Mayor of Island of Maio in Cabo Verde visits New Bedford - SouthCoastToday.com

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