November 20, 2009

A Puerto Rican Evening

Last Friday, November 13th, I attended the Comité Noviembre 14th Annual Gala Celebrating 23 Years of Puerto Rican Heritage Month held at the Hilton in New York City. My very good friend Carlos A. Picón asked me to attend and present him with the award he was receiving that night. Carlos, a fascinating fellow, is the Curator in Charge of the Department of Greek and Roman Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One could only wish to have him along while exploring the ancient ruins of Greece and, to my great fortune, that is exactly what happened back in 1996. I was vacationing with a group of friends and Carlos joined the group as our informal lecturer and cultural guide to the wonders of ancient Greek history - a most memorable experience.

Established in 1987, the mission of Comité Noviembre is to commemorate and acknowledge all aspects of Puerto Rican life from the social and cultural to the educational, economic, and political. This organization strives to create an awareness of the rich culture, language, and heritage of the Puerto Rican community. The gala last week was a benefit to raise funds for its scholarship awards program. The event is known for the exciting musical entertainment it draws, and I must say that it was certainly a lively and fun evening. Thank you, Carlos, for inviting me and congratulations to all who were honored!