San Jose Declares October 25 'Republic of China (Taiwan) Day,' Lights City Hall for a Week to Honor Taiwanese American Contributions
San Jose, California — The San Jose City Council announced on October 20 that October 25 this year is designated "Republic of China (Taiwan) Day." Mayor Matt Mahan presented a proclamation to Lin Da-rui, president of the Chinese American Heritage Foundation, and the city scheduled a Republic of China flag-raising ceremony for October 23, with the City Hall tower and rotunda lit from October 20 to 26 as part of the commemorations. The proclamation, signed by the mayor and all council members, recognizes the contributions of Taiwanese Americans to the local community. Lin said that raising the Republic of China flag at the civic plaza of San Jose, a major Silicon Valley city, carries special meaning for the Taiwanese community, showing the city's respect for Taiwanese residents and helping raise the community's visibility. District 5 Councilmember Peter Ortiz said "Republic of China (Taiwan) Day" not only commemorates Taiwan's history but also affirms the Taiwanese people's commitment to democracy, education and innovation, as well as Taiwanese Americans' contributions to Silicon Valley's economy, technology and multicultural life. Kuo Hui-chen, head of the press division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, said this is the second year the San Jose City Council has issued a "Republic of China (Taiwan) Day" proclamation, reflecting the local government's recognition of the Taiwanese community's long-standing commitment to community service and cultural preservation. San Jose and Tainan have been sister cities since 1977. The Chinese Cultural Park in Overfelt Park in East San Jose was built with donations from Taiwan in the 1970s, and the City of San Jose is seeking two federal grants to repair the park's pond, improve its landscaping and restore the historic "Friendship Gate," preserving the site as cultural heritage.
Source: GSM·USA
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 圣荷西市政府圆形大厅。San Jose City Hall rotunda in San Jose, California. Photo: The wub / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
