A Peruvian celebration

When a major earthquake devastated southern Peru last August, Shoreline and Lake Forest Park Rotary clubs and local residents helped the Consulate of Peru ship a container of supplies to Peru. The collection process of non-perishable food, blankets, and tents among other items took priority over the Consulate’s centennial anniversary.

The cause for celebration was far from forgotten however, and a weeklong celebration cumulated on April 5 at 10 a.m. in a neighborhood parade and musical performance.

“This started as just a small thing,” Consul Miguel Angel Velásquez said. “It was just to say thank you to the neighborhood and to Lake Forest Park for being so attentive to us. The mayor and the police and neighbors have always been so helpful. They’ve always been very friendly and we want to say thank you.”

The Consulate of Peru has been located in Washington since 1907, according to Velásquez. At that time, he said, the office was in Port Townsend to facilitate imports and exports sent by ship to and from Peru. From the Consulate’s current location on Northeast 157th Street in Lake Forest Park, the office mainly functions to help Peruvians who live within the state and to promote relationships with Peru, Velásquez said.

Many Peruvians live throughout the state, he added, with the highest concentration of the state’s Peruvian population residing in Lynnwood and in Burien.

Although the weekend celebration plans were at first meant as a small symbolic gesture, additional events throughout the week helped more people become aware of the parade, Velásquez said. Approximately 180 people arrived on a Peruvian naval ship that docked at Seattle’s Pier 66, 2201 Alaskan Way on April 3. Velasquez requested that 40 naval cadets march in the parade on April 5. A naval band began the morning’s event and Peruvian dancers Sonia Porras and Nestor Ruiz performed the traditional Marinera dance while a crowd of onlookers grouped together at the corner of 157th Street Northeast and 38th Avenue Northeast.

A ribbon cutting dedicated new street signs on Northeast 157th Street that include the seals of Lake Forest Park and of Peru and labeled the portion of road between 38th Avenue Northeast and 37th Avenue northeast as the Republic of Peru Boulevard.

“This is ceremonial, a friendship thing,” Mayor Hutchinson said. “We’re just proud to have a consulate in our city and the signs help people know it’s there.”

Mayor Hutchinson read a proclamation declaring Saturday, April 5, 2008, as Consulate of Peru Celebration Day. Consul Velásquez presented a flag of Peru to Hutchinson in appreciation of the city of Lake Forest Park.

The weeklong centennial celebration began on March 29 at Edmonds Center for the Arts with a performance of Peru Negro, a music, dance and storytelling group that celebrates Peru’s African heritage. Peruvian crafts were featured aboard a Peruvian naval ship through April 3-5.