MINEOLA, NY – For the First time in over two decades, the Village of Mineola will honor the Portuguese community and its heritage by hosting the 1st ANNUAL LONG ISLAND PORTUGAL DAY PARADE on Sunday June 8th, 2014. The Parade will be organized by the Portuguese Heritage Society – Lusitano and coordinated by philanthropist Rosa Leal & the Daughters of Portugal.
The parade is expected to stretch 1.5 miles long and will assemble at 10am on Jackson Ave (behind Chaminade High School) and start at 11am in front of the Mineola Portuguese Center. Attendees will march down Jericho Turnpike to Roslyn Road, head south to Westbury Avenue, turn East to Union Avenue and end at Wilson Park during the Annual Portuguese American Feast & Carnival.
The historic intersection of Jericho Turnpike, home to the Mineola Portuguese Center, and Willis Avenue, home to the Portuguese Heritage Society-Lusitano and Alheirense Cultural Center, will be an emotionally symbolic juncture during the parade for many in the community.
Selection of the Grand Marshall was entrusted to attendees at the Long Island Portuguese American Leadership Conference, held this week in the Portuguese American Center of Suffolk, Farmingville. No child in the community younger than 21 has ever seen a Portuguese-themed parade on Long Island, and therefore, the community unanimously bestowed this year’s Grand Marshall honor upon “The Children of the Community,” in “recognition of the importance of the youth in the preservation of the community’s culture and ideals.” One child representing each local organization will walk alongside a list of Honorary Marshalls that include New York State Senator Jack Martins, County Executive Ed Mangano, County Comptroller George Maragos, County Deputy Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello, Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss, Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira and Trustees Dennis Walsh, Paul Cusato & George Durham, among others.
Confirmed participants already include Academia do Bacalhau, Alheirense Cultural Center, American Foundations for Charities of Portugal, Daughters of Portugal, Escola Antero Figueiredo, Escola Julio Dinis, L.I.P.A.C. Brentwood, LI Portuguese Lions Club, Luso American Riders Group, Mineola Portuguese Center, Mineola Portuguese Soccer Club, Portuguese Continental Union – Sur. 51, Portuguese Heritage Society – Lusitano, Ranchos Aldeias de Portugal and Ranchos Juventude & Sonhos de Portugal.
Registration forms and more information may be obtained by emailing LIPortuguese@gmail.com.
