On July 4th, the United States will celebrate its 249th Independence Day. To commemorate this event, a five-day celebration series called “It Happened Here” will be held in downtown Manhattan, New York. This event serves as a warm-up for next year’s 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and the 400th anniversary of the founding of New York. The theme of the activities is “Five Days Condensed into Four Hundred Years”, and it includes a celebration event in the Chinese community on July 5th.
On Tuesday, the organizers held a press conference for Chinese media at the Lucky Star Restaurant, announcing that the celebration of the United States’ 249th Independence Day will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 5th at the landmark Kimlau Square in Chinatown. The event will feature a presentation by members of the Veterans Association, including former New York State Supreme Court Justice Randall Eng, who will speak about “Unknown and Hidden Stories” to commemorate the outstanding contributions of the Chinese community to America over the past 200 years and their significance in American history.
The co-organizers of the event, members of the Downtown Manhattan Historical Society and Chinatown Business Improvement District Director Chen Zuozhou, stated that this year’s series of events will kick start a year-long celebration leading up to the 250th Independence Day anniversary next year. They emphasized the importance of holding these activities in the Chinese community, highlighting that over 800 Chinese-Americans sacrificed their lives for the country during World War II. “We encourage everyone to come and listen to these stories,” said Chen, “We should not forget and we promise not to forget their sacrifices.”
Chairman Yu Jinshan of the Eastern Chinese Association reflected on General Washington’s experiences in New York, noting that his refusal to surrender to the powerful British forces and his successful retreat with the Continental Army in Manhattan during heavy fog marked a significant turning point in the war. General Washington later took his oath of office in New York and celebrated in Chinatown, followed by conducting official business at City Hall, leaving enduring historical footprints. “This demonstrates the important position of downtown Manhattan in American history,” said Yu Jinshan.
On Tuesday, Yu Jinshan led a group of high school and college interns to learn about the history of New York’s paramount role in American independence. He expressed hopes for the younger generation to deepen their love for America and make significant contributions in the future.
The schedule of the celebration activities includes: On July 3rd (Thursday), an event with a 17th-century theme at the Federal Hall in downtown Manhattan where 150 citizens will participate in a naturalization ceremony; on July 4th (Friday), Independence Day, the 10th Annual Independence Day Parade will take place, starting with flag-raising at Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park and proceeding through historic streets to recreate the atmosphere of the revolutionary era; on July 5th (Saturday), discussions on General Lafayette and the transformation of New York from a small town to a major American city, with a gathering at Kimlau Square in Chinatown; from July 6th to July 7th, seminars and exhibitions on industrial progress after the 20th century, urban architecture, and more.
On the day of the event, New York State Senator Carvanna, Wu Wensui, head of Maple New York Development Company, Wu Baoling from the Huacehui Renyuan Center, and various organizations including Tongji Community Assistance Association, New York Chinese Benevolent Association, Brooklyn Asian Civil Guard, Culture Now, came together to express their support and jointly organize the activities.