The Indian flag is raised during a ceremony on Aug. 14 at City Hall Plaza.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
CHICOPEE — The community and members of the Indian culture gathered on Aug. 14 at City Hall Plaza to celebrate the spirit of freedom, unity and cultural pride with the raising of the Indian Flag.
The event celebrated the 78th year of India’s independence from British rule for 200 years.
Vieau said he has learned a lot about Indian Americans and their proud heritage is that they are very hardworking, smart and their contributions are incredible to the community and economy.
He said, “We’re here to celebrate the Indian American community, their contributions to not just the city of Chicopee, but the commonwealth of Massachusetts, to this country and I’m here to celebrate with my friends. The people who mean a lot to me.”
Raj Sanghvi and Cookie Haven Chicopee owner Kamy Sanghvi; Sam and Jared Newell, owners of Fruit Fair Supermarket; and Falls Pizza and Craft Bar owner Ridvan Turan and colleagues were also at the event to show their support.
Sanghvi, who owns multiple businesses in Chicopee with his wife Kamy, took the time to thank those who attended the event and celebrate Indian Independence Day.
“I really appreciate the mayor and the mayor’s office; the staff for setting this up. To the community and everyone present here, you’ve been very supportive of our community and Chicopee has been great to us. We don’t feel that we are out of India now, it’s become a second home and it’s just amazing how America just appreciates everybody who works hard and can achieve anything in this great country,” Sanghvi said.
State Rep. Shirley Arriaga (D-Chicopee) also attended and said she wanted to be there to show her support for the important day.
She shared, “We are here to celebrate the Independence Day of the Indian community and more importantly, to hopefully share some information and I encourage everyone to take the time to learn about the Indian community, the cultures and the values. Chicopee, if nothing else, is diverse and we welcome and accept all from all backgrounds and creed.”
Vieau and Arriaga also highlighted Mahatma Gandi and what his values and practices brought to the world.
To raise a flag at City Hall, you either need a proclamation from the mayor’s office or a resolution from the City Council and Vieau added, “I am willing every single time to recognize a heritage of one of those who call Chicopee home. Our diversity is something very special and as a proud Polish American and a proud French American, I know what it means to be super proud of where you come from.”
Vieau also said a moment he remembers is when the Indian American community blessed him on inauguration day and something that he said he considers special and a memorable moment in his life.
