The music was booming. The dancing was electrifying. The cheers were resounding. The pride was palpable. The flag is flying high.
It was indeed a party with a purpose in Aurora as Puerto Rican community members, and supporters gathered downtown for the annual Puerto Rican Flag Raising Ceremony.
The ceremony started the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council’s 51st annual Puerto Rican Heritage Week in Aurora.
Some smiled as the flag of Puerto Rico was raised to the singing of the Puerto Rican anthem. Others cried. All were proud to see the island of Puerto Rico so well represented in the second-largest city in Illinois.
“We raise our flag for those who came before us, but most importantly, we raise it for the next generation,” said the recently crowned Aurora Puerto Rican Queen Taina Torres, a senior at Aurora University.
Torres was joined on stage by other 2023 Puerto Rican Pageant Court members.
Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin issued a proclamation, honoring City Hall staff members of Puerto Rican descent, and presented the City’s annual Puerto Rican Heritage Award to Lisa and Wilson Morales, educators in East Aurora School District 131.
Aurora’s celebration of Puerto Rican heritage will conclude Sunday, July 30, with the 51st annual Puerto Rican Heritage Fest in downtown Aurora.
— City government of Aurora