Okay, hi everybody, thank you for coming out.

This is our third annual Haitian Heritage Month, but Haitian Flag Day celebration.

And um it's going well, right?

We we we you always show up.

Um I hope we caught the singing out there because we we sounded great.

You know, my aunt, she's what, 98 years old?

She's always singing the song, and several years she says she's gonna sing it.

She's coming out, she's coming out.

And then so I was like last year, it's like, oh, I didn't realize it was this year.

So I just went to get her, and she's like, my arm is hurting, I can't come out.

I can't sing, I can't come out.

My mom, my back is hurting, I'm not coming out.

So, you know, they're they're older and they're like, they find reasons that why they can't come out, but they're here in spirit.

And I and I and I hope one day you get to hear my aunt sing this song.

She had two songs that she wanted to sing for you.

That song, and then there was a song that she always sings because when Haiti was repay was paying back that 150 million dollar debt to France that wasn't a debt for winning their freedom, the country had songs and encouraged people to pay the debt and get out of the situation.

So she actually knows that song and is always singing in, and that's what she had planned for you.

So hopefully next year you'll get to hear it.

Oh, you know what?

I'm gonna record her, and then I'm gonna play it for you.

Make sure she she gets her her her day in in the limelight.

So um we're gonna start the program, and the other fun fact about about this is that this all started um one year when when there was a lot of things going on in Haiti.

That's like almost every year, right?

We were being attacked left and right again, that's like all the time.

And councilman Peters came to me and said, you know, let's talk about doing something for the Haitian community.

This councilman Peters here, he's our district three councilman David Peters.

He said, Let's do something for the Haitian community.

I want to do like a prayer or something because just something to show that we're where we stand with them and that we support them.

And um I said, yeah, that's great.

Um, but it's almost you know, May, that's when we celebrate our flag day.

And I always wanted to do a flag day celebration, so I said, if we really do that, that's gonna really commemorate Haiti and show us and show that we're supporting.

And he's like, wonderful.

That's how this got started.

And now it's an annual thing.

So I always want to thank Councilman Peters, who's gonna come up and read the city proclamation for us.

Um, but that's that's that's how it got started.

Thank you, Councilman Peters.

Come on up.

I think it's the big one.

Do I see?

You can stay here if you choose to.

Hello, everybody.

Greetings on behalf of the city of New Rochelle on behalf of our mayor, your dear Ram is Herbert, uh, and City Council, I believe, is here uh recognizing City Council as well as as our as our city here in the city of New Rochelle.

You know, this is a wonderful difference as you said it's this one?

This one.

She wants me to read this one.

Yeah.

Okay.

So we take this one off.

All right.

This is a wonderful day and a wonderful event.

Uh, you know, to have uh Haitian Day here, Heritage Day here in New Rochelle with this with the community that is so strong and so vibrant and has such a rich history of overcoming any kind of oppression that emerges in the lifeblood of the Haitian community.

This is just a wonderful day.

And uh, I'm just really happy that all of you who are here are able to participate in this great event.

So our the proclamation reads as such, but you being here is so much more.

The proclamation reads, uh the office of the mayor, the city of New Rochelle proclamation honoring Haitian Heritage Day, whereas the city of New Rochelle takes pride in recognizing and celebrating the rich cultural diversity that strengthens our community, and whereas Haitian Heritage Month is celebrated during the month of May to honor the history, culture, and contributions of the Haitian people, both in Haiti and throughout the diaspora, including right here in New Rochelle.

And whereas May is a significant month in Haitian history, encompassing important milestones, such as Haitian Flag Day on May 18th, a symbol of pride, resilience, and unity for Haitians around the world.

And whereas the Haitian American community has contributed immeasurably to the social, cultural, economic, and civic life of New Rochelle through leadership, entrepreneurship, education, arts, and service.

And whereas by observing Haitian Heritage Month, we honor the enduring spirit of the Haitian people, acknowledge the contributions of Haitian Americans to our city, and promote cultural understanding, respect, and unity among all residents.

Now, therefore, I, your dear Ramos Herbert, mayor of the city of New Rochelle do hereby proclaim the month of May as Haitian Heritage Month in the city of New Rochelle and encourage all residents to join in recognizing and celebrating the rich history and cultural legacy of our Haitian American community.