NEW YORK, NY — On October 10, 2026, the streets of Manhattan’s Chinatown came alive with Republic of China (Taiwan) flags, traditional music, drums, lion and dragon dances, and enthusiastic cheers as the community celebrated Taiwan’s 115th National Day.

For second-generation Taiwanese Americans like FASCA members Hunter Chen and Caleb Lee, Double Ten Day was more than a parade. It was a chance to experience their heritage, connect with generations before them, and reflect on what it means to grow up with both Taiwanese and American identities.

The celebration continued a more-than-century-old tradition of New York’s overseas Chinese community. Hosted around the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA), the day included a flag-raising ceremony, flower offerings, a National Day rally, and a patriotic parade through Chinatown.

Community leaders attending the celebration included Eric Ng (伍銳賢), President of the CCBA, and (李志強), Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, along with representatives from Taiwanese-American and overseas Chinese organizations across New York and New Jersey.

Director-General Lee expressed appreciation for the longstanding support of overseas Chinese communities, noting their important role in supporting Taiwan. He thanked community members for their contributions and reaffirmed TECO-NY’s commitment to working with community organizations to serve overseas Chinese.

Ng highlighted the historical connection between New York’s overseas Chinese community and Taiwan’s history, recalling that Dr. Sun Yat-Sen visited the CCBA in 1911 to seek support from overseas Chinese for the revolutionary movement. He emphasized that annual National Day celebrations help preserve this history while recognizing Taiwan’s achievements in democracy, the rule of law, technology, and culture.

For Hunter, the day was an unforgettable cultural experience.

“At the Double Ten Flag Raising ceremony, it was lively and fun. I had a great time,” Hunter said. “Being part of a ginormous parade is so cool and shows you are supporting the festival with everybody else.”

He was particularly impressed by the traditional performances, including the enormous dragon, energetic lion dancers, powerful drumming, and towering flags.

In the late afternoon, the National Day Patriotic Parade began. Republic of China flags filled the streets as participants marched through Chinatown to the sounds of gongs, drums, and cheers from the crowd.

For Caleb, however, the celebration carried an even deeper meaning.

“As the crowd cheered and families took photos together, I realized that this day wasn’t just about celebrating Taiwan’s birthday. It was about celebrating who we are—a generation growing up in two cultures, carrying both with pride and love,” Caleb said.

“For me, standing beneath those two waving flags, it wasn’t just Taiwan’s National Day. It was a reminder that being Taiwanese American means celebrating both homes—with one heart.”

For a new generation of Taiwanese Americans, Double Ten Day demonstrated that heritage is not simply something inherited from the past. It is something young people can experience, embrace, and carry forward.

As the flags waved above Chinatown and the parade moved through its streets, Hunter offered a simple invitation to other young Taiwanese Americans: “I would highly recommend you go next year. There were great performances, and it was so fun.”

For these young participants, celebrating Taiwan in New York was ultimately about more than remembering where their families came from. It was about proudly carrying that heritage into the future.