Photo By Sgt. Tamika Exom | FU.S. Army South soldiers and civilians, joined Renatta Americo (left), Lt. Col Marcos...... read more read more
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FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – The Independence Day of Brazil, also called Sete de Setembro (7th of September) or Dia de Patria (Nation’s Day) celebrates Brazil’s declaration of independence from Portugal, Sept. 7, 1822.
While standing along the shore of the Ipiranga River, Prince Pedro I proclaimed the country’s independence from Portugal declaring, “By my blood, by my honor, and by God: I will make Brazil free.”
This year, on Sept. 7, Brazil celebrates 190 years of independence from Portugal. In keeping with the traditions of fostering partner nation capacity, Maj. Gen. Simeon G. Trombitas, commanding general, U.S. Army South, along with more than 70 Army South Soldiers and civilians, joined in celebrating Brazil’s Independence Day with an observance celebration held here and hosted by Brazilian Lt. Col. Marcos Americo, Army South foreign liaison officer.
The Partner Nation Liaison Officer (PNLO) program was established by U.S. Southern Command in 1998 to establish links and facilitate cooperation and mutual understanding between the U.S. Army and partner nations of Central and South America and the Caribbean.
A PNLO, also called a FLO, is a foreign government military member or civilian employee who is authorized by his or her government, and is certified by a Department of the Army component in connection with programs, projects or agreements of interest to the governments. Americo has been Army South’s FLO since January.
Americo, whose wife, Renatta was in attendance, gave a video presentation which included traditional Brazilian Independence Day celebration activities as well as some sights and highlighted facts about Brazil.
This year, Brazil chimed in as the sixth largest economy in the world, claiming the U.K.’s spot. France remains in fifth place behind Germany, Japan, China and the U.S. The top of the list of economic attractions are agriculture and the processing of food stuffs, which account for about a quarter of Brazilian Gross Domestic Product and 36 percent of exports. In the last 20 years, Brazil has become the world's largest producer of sugarcane, coffee, tropical fruits, and has the world's largest commercial cattle herd of nearly 170 million animals, 50 percent more than the U.S. according to Brazil's finance minister, Guido Mantega.
Independence Day is a public holiday, consisting of picnics, military and civil parades and lots of outdoor events like air shows, musical events, fireworks and patriotic displays in most Brazilian cities. Thousands of Brazilians gather in the streets to celebrate with streamers, banners and balloons while proudly flying their flag. In Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, the national holiday brings approximately 30 thousand people to Ministries Esplanade, where a military parade marches in view of the President of Brazil.
In New York City, Brazilian Day is held annually near Times Square, spanning 25 blocks and drawing a crowd of more than one million people. The Brazilian Day concert, the main event, features Brazilian musicians and is aired in Brazil and more than 115 countries by the Brazilian television network Globo. Similar events are held in other major cities such as Los Angeles., San Diego, Deerfield Beach, Fl., Toronto, and London, U.K.
“Independence Day is a day to reinforce feelings of love for our country and to reinforce the desire to serve our country and our people,” said Americo.
| Date Taken: | 09.07.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2012 12:01 |
| Story ID: | 94574 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 239 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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