【時報訊】由聖路易台灣同鄉會主辦之台美傳統周一連串文物展示，音樂電影欣賞，舞臺演出等慶祝活動，於五月五日下午一時在聖路易歷史博物館熱鬧展開，台美傳統周開幕儀式由邱文慧擔任司儀，臺鄉會邀得聖路易郡郡長Charlie Dooley夫婦，伊州眾議員John Shimkus助理Steve Tomaszewski，州務卿聖路易辦公室主任Ethel Byndom等貴賓與會。中華民國駐堪薩斯臺北經文辦事處處長陳家坤及僑務秘書林美玲亦專程與會，台鄉會會長何麗津女士在開幕式中致詞表示，在歷史博物館慶祝台美傳統周別具意義，我們在聖路易雖然是少數，但是我們有宏大的心胸，願意與聖路易這個偉大的城市共同分享我們的傳統，我們的文化，共同創造美好的未來。 (何麗津會長英文講詞原文請見下)
堪薩斯辦事處處長陳家坤應邀致詞表示，臺美裔的傳統豐富了美國的多元文化。經由傳統周的舉辦，能夠增進彼此間的了解，加深臺灣與美國之良好關係，陳處長感謝臺鄉會的努力將臺灣的音樂電影，文物，藝術，政經發展，舞臺表演等以多元化媒體方式，生動活潑地介紹給聖路易社區大眾。
伊利諾州眾議員John Shimkus助理Steve Tomaszewski在開幕式中宣讀John Shimkus眾議員之書面賀詞。
聖路易郡郡長Charlie Dooley夫婦一起參加了開幕式，一向活潑熱情的Dooley郡長在開幕式中特別頒發文告宣佈五月為台美傳統月，共申聖路易郡慶祝台美傳統周慶賀之意，由會長何麗津代表接受。
開幕式中同時舉行學生論文比賽頒獎典禮，共有四位高中生得獎，開幕式最後在由臺鄉會副會長林泰博士指揮，會長何麗津，蘇希三，張玲雪等四人演唱台灣民謠「丟丟銅」歌聲中結束。
聖路易台灣同鄉會會長何麗津致詞全文Taiwanese American Heritage Week Celebration
Christina Su.President of Taiwanese Association of America St. Louis Chapter
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very happy to welcome you to our seventh annual Taiwanese American Heritage Week celebration, the 2nd time at this Missouri History Museum.
I would like to recognize Mr. Steven Tomaszewski, county executive, Mr. Charlie Dooley, Miss Ethel Byndom, Mr. Barney Bradshaw and Director General Mr. Jack Chen for their support and guidance of this event.
Standing behind the statue of Thomas Jefferson in this Grand Hall, I feel that we are following his example in making something grand in history.It is our spirit of adventure and exploration, our vision, courage, and tolerance that it is worth passing to the next generation. These qualities pave the way for a great future ahead of us just as they have brought us to where we are now.
Though we are a small number in this area, we all have big hearts that recognize and appreciate that the people in this great city reflect the spirit that not just allows us but actually encourages us to cherish and advance the culture from which we come.
Leading the preparation of this event has forced me to really thinkxabout what Taiwanese heritage is. I am glad that after 11 months my hands are not empty.
In the process, I learned that we are trying to produce something new and good through questioning, searching, discussing, and making decisions collectively with limited resources, expertise, and diversified insights. We have mixed our common Taiwanese background with what we have learned in St. Louis and tried to present what we can passxon to the future generations and to the community at large.
Many years ago when the American people were moving westward beyond St. Louis, they had rely on their creative thinking and the collective labor of their hands rather than waiting for the government or miracles to carry them.
It was through the everyday efforts of ordinary people that this country became what it is today. I am excited to find that the Taiwanese history and culture we cherish as our heritage is not the result of any single earth shattering moment, but stems rather from the small yet earnest efforts of ordinary people.
In this place of such great historical value, we are proud to display the hard work, beliefs, and accomplishments of the Taiwanese American people. It is an honor to display publicly our cultural identity, which may contain new insights and new experiences to some of us.On behalf of the association I would like to extend my gratitude to the Museum for hosting this event and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City for their encouragement and support. I鏆 also like to thank Congressman John Schimkus, county Executive Charlie Dooley and Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan for their recognition and support of our cultural existence. The declaration from county Executive is especially encouraging "beyond expectation". This is a live testimony of history-making in St. Louis. We will always remember this date and this declaration
Thanks to the hard work of the planning committee, the museum staffs, volunteers, and all of the guests, who make this wonderful event possible.I now have the honor to declare that Taiwanese American Heritage Week, as an important milestone in our history in St. Louis, is officially open.
Thank you all for being a part of this.
伊利諾州國會眾議員John Shimkus賀詞
May 5, 2007
Donald S. Shih, Ph.D.Taiwanese Association of America, St. Louis Chapter
Dr. Shih,
Thank you for the kind invitation to today's Taiwanese American Heritage Celebration opening ceremony at the Missouri History Museum. I am sorry that I cannot be with you in person, although I am certainly appreciative of your support.
I continue to support your native land's interest in the U.S. Congress by maintaining membership in the Congressional Taiwan Caucus. Taiwan is one of our most reliable allies in the Asian Hemisphere, and your organization and members have enhanced my knowledge of your culture.
It is your involvement in government that makes me a better representative. I want to wish you the best today, as you begin this celebration, and always.
Sincerely,
JOHN M. SHIMKUSMember of Congress
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