Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Thursday, August 9, 2001
Release #286-01

Contact: Sunny Mindel / Sid Dinsay 212-788-2958


MAYOR GIULIANI HOSTS RECEPTION IN HONOR OF
THE 20TH ANNUAL DOMINICAN DAY PARADE


Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani hosted a reception tonight at Gracie Mansion in honor of the 20th Annual Dominican Day Parade. During the ceremony, the Mayor presented a proclamation to Parade President Nelson Pena, highlighting the contributions and heritage of the Dominican community in New York City. The Mayor was also joined by Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington; Board of Education President Ninfa Segarra; Dr. Roman Tallaj; and Normandia Maldonado, Director of Public Relations for the Dominican Day Parade.

"The music, dancing, and the bright colors of the 20th Annual Dominican Day Parade are a celebration of a proud nation's historic past -- and also of their contributions to the culture and heritage of our great City," said Mayor Giuliani. "Dominicans have succeeded in every facet of City life -- education, politics, the arts, religion -- and this Parade is the best way to showcase their proud their proud heritage."

The 20th Annual Dominican Day Parade will be held on Sunday, August 12th. The parade route will go north on 6th Avenue from 36th to 59th Streets in Manhattan. Parade organizers says about 3,000 people will march in the parade, and they also anticipate over one million spectators to line the parade route. This parade is just one in a series of cultural events celebrated throughout the City to honor Dominican heritage.

This year, the Dominican community commemorates the 138th anniversary of the restoration of its country's Constitution on August 16, 1863, when a group of patriots led by Santiago Rodriguez crossed the Dominican border from Haiti and raised the Dominican flag.

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