The Bhutanese Community in Syracuse (BCS), Inc., has celebrated its sixth year of establishment and second annual day amidst a grand function on March 8.
The even kick started with the welcome dance of the small girls that was followed by the welcome speech of the BCS president Jai Subedi. The vice president Praja P Sapkota and the program manager Jawala Regmi spellbound the audience with a thirty minutes long powerpoint presentation entitled ‘From Bhutan to America-Our Epic Journey of Eighteen Years”.
Chief guest of the event Dr. Peter Cronkright expressed that BCS has been very successful in assimilation, and they have been example to other communities.
“I have also found the Bhutanese-Nepalese to be very health conscious’, added Dr. Cronkright that he has been very privileged to be a part of such a great celebration.
Similarly, the mayor of Syracuse, NY Stephanie Miner send her proclamation to the Bhutanese community through her representative. The mayor’s proclamation stated that the Bhutanese people of Syracuse have beautified the city through their unique culture, and congratulated those who became the new citizens of the United States.
William B Magnarelly, the assemblyman of 129th Assembly District Syracuse stated that the city will be benefited by this growing community in near future.
Stephanie Horton, one of the guest speakers and program facilitator of Refugee Assistance Program thanked the community folks for such a hospitality.
“It has been nearly twenty five years that I have been involved in the refugee assistance services but I have never seen any such vibrant community”, said Mrs. Horton.
Hari Acharya, an executive member of ABA suggested the youngsters to be loyal to the United States, and they should not only rely on government assistance but need to contribute on their part for its economic growth.
The event also saw different prominent figures of greater Syracuse community. Syracuse City School District Superintendent, Syracuse police chief, representatives of different employers and hospitals, and professors of local universities and colleges attended the event.
BCS also honored nine different personalities of Syracuse that have influenced the community members’ lives in different ways.
BCS day 2014 was sponsored by four different Bhutanese-Nepalese stores of Syracuse. Gifford Foundation, Community Foundation, Romano Motors and Raju Trucking, Inc also partly sponsored the even.
Around three hundred community members and some hundred guests attended the BCS day that was conducted at the auditorium of local Franklin Elementary school.
