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Ceremony is first of its kind for state’s largest city;
Parents of Peruvian-American soldier slain in Iraq are also honored for their sacrifice
Newark, NJ – July 29, 2009 – Mayor Cory A. Booker, Deputy Mayor for Neighborhood Engagement Margarita Muñiz, members of the Newark Municipal Council, members of the North Jersey Peruvian-American community, and other dignitaries gathered yesterday to mark the 188th anniversary of Peru declaring its independence from Spain by raising the South American nation’s flag over City Hall.

The afternoon ceremony was the first time Newark had observed Peruvian Independence Day, and the Rotunda was filled with Peruvian-Americans from across the North Jersey region. An emotional highlight of the ceremony came when Mayor Booker asked for a moment of silence for U.S. Army Sgt. Christian Bueno Galdos, a Paterson resident and Peruvian-American who was killed in Iraq. Sgt. Bueno Galdos’ parents were on hand to receive their son’s posthumous Newark Medal of Honor from the Mayor.

Addressing the audience in English and Spanish, Mayor Booker said, “One of the reasons why Newark is a city on the rise is because of the contributions of the Peruvian-American community to business, culture and the arts. Today is the 188th anniversary of Peru’s independence and the first time we have acknowledged how the Peruvian-American community is a powerful part of our growing City.”

When the Mayor presented Eugenia Gardos and Carlos Bueno, Sgt. Bueno Galdos’ parents, with the City’s highest honor, he said, “This family has given the ultimate sacrifice. Exhibiting extraordinary courage and commitment, their son put his life on the line for his country and paid the highest price. Families like this have given more for our nation than others are asked to give. We will not forget their sacrifice. Americans owe this family a debt of gratitude.”
There were also remarks from Maria Puertas of the Peruvian Consul-General’s Office, a proclamation from Governor Jon Corzine, resolutions from the Newark Municipal Council, and presentations of letters of commendation and awards to Peruvian-American teachers, entrepreneurs, and legislators for their community service.

The attendees, many of them wearing Peru’s national colors of red and white, also enjoyed Peruvian music, food, and dance performances in the City Hall Rotunda. Wearing Traditional Peruvian costumes, Consuelo Udaz of the Somos Independientes Dance School performed Peruvian Tondero dances with her longtime partner and instructor, Paul Oliva.
“I’ve been dancing since I was five, and I’m 30 now,” said Ms. Udaz. “To be good at this, you have to love Tondero dancing and practice, practice, practice.”
The City of Newark also honored Harrison Councilman Jesus Huaranga, Saddle Brook Council President Omar Rodriguez, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Jorge Yeshayahu Gonzales, and Paterson Deputy Mayor Maria del Pilar Rivas.

Yanina Paz, director of public relations for the Peruvian-American Society of New Jersey, said that North Jersey’s Peruvian-American community is based in Paterson, Kearny, and Newark, and has been growing since the 1990s. “New Jersey has one of the largest Peruvian-American communities in the nation, and we have a lot of art and dance schools now that teach Peruvian arts and traditions,” she said.

After the speeches and dancing, everyone in attendance moved outside of City Hall for the flag-raising ceremony. The crowd sang the Peruvian National Anthem as the red-and-white colors advanced up the flagpole. The ceremony was followed with a buffet-style dinner of Peruvian cuisine.
“We are very happy with how the City of Newark hosted this event,” Ms. Paz said. “There was a lot of participation from across the region, and we see this event continuing and growing here for many more years.”

-NEWARK-
Contact: Press Information Office: (973) 733-8004 E-mail: Pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us