New England has designated October 30 as Taiwan Day. In the first Taiwan Day jointly organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Boston and Springfield City in Massachusetts, the ROC (Taiwan) flag was raised in front of the city government building and Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno declared the day Springfield Taiwan Day.
In his speech prior to the cultural performance in Springfield Symphony Hall, Mayor Sarno declared that Springfield is an ethnic melting pot and he himself is a second- generation immigrant, his parents emigrating to the US after WWII. For this reason, he knows that many Taiwanese migrants come to the US for a better life.
In his speech Mayor Sarno said “Taiwan can help, Taiwan is helping,” thanking TECO Boston for helping Springfield fight the COVID-19 epidemic. He stated outright that due to the matchmaking efforts of State Representative Angelo J. Puppolo Jr. he agreed to work with TECO Boston to promote various bilateral relationships between Springfield and Taiwan as well as declare October 30 as Taiwan Day. Sarno said this was the first time he has heard the Taiwan national anthem, it is beautiful and also said that the singer Ou Yang Shan sang very well.
Chairman of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Export Development Committee Angelo J.Puppolo Jr said this was the first time that not just the city but even Springfield Symphony Hall has raised the Taiwan (ROC) flag. On behalf of Massachusetts, he thanked Taiwan for donating 400,000 facemasks, 10,500 of which were received by Springfield City. He also said that Taiwan is the 11th largest trading partner of Massachusetts and expressed the hope that Springfield Taiwan Day becomes an annual event.
