It was flag waving, and dancing by the Garifuna Folkloric Dance Company with a few political speeches thrown in by some members of TEAM DIAZ as they hosted the Abrazo Garifuna 2017 in honor of Garifuna-American Heritage Month. There are now six members of TEAM DIAZ who are State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr., Assemblyman (and Bronx Democratic County Leader) Marcos Crespo, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, Assemblyman Victor Pichardo, Assemblyman Michael Blake, and Councilman Rafael Salamanca. Each of the six members of Team Diaz had one person that they selected to be their honoree.
The honorees were Mr. Pablo Gomez by State Senator Diaz Sr. Ms. Linda Lino by Assemblyman Crespo. Mr. Felipa Manaiza by Assemblyman Sepulveda, Mr. Edson Arzu by Assemblyman Pichardo. Ms. Mirtha Colon by Assemblyman Blake, and Ms. Morphy Valentine by Councilman Salamanca.
Above - State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda hold each others arm high in celebration of their many years of friendship. If you enlarge the photo, you can see that Senator Diaz Sr's cowboy hat is green for St. Patrick's Day.
Below - Five of the six members of TEAM DIAZ 2017. Assemblyman Michael Blake who is missing from the photos was returning from Washington where he was recently elected a Democratic National Committee Vice-Chair. Blake arrived right before the ceremony ended and is pictured in a few photos at the end.
Above and Below - Before the ceremony there was time to get in a few photos with some of the attendees.
Above - Pastor Andrew Nunez gives the Invocation.
Below - Ms. Lucy Blanco sings the U. S. National Anthem.
Above - The six honorees for the evening.
Below - The elected officials hold the awards for the honorees. Being that it was St. Patrick's Day on the right side is State Committeeman for the 80th A.D. Joseph McManus a real Irishman is there for good luck. Just like a leprechaun as you turned around he was gone and off to another event.
Above and Below - The Garifuna Folkloric Dance Company danced up a storm.
Yes these two lovely ladies were two of the dancers who performed.
