A Peruvian celebration

  • By Amy Daybert Enterprise editor
  • Thursday, April 3, 2008 3:29pm

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 will cumulate 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 have helped more people become aware of the parade, Velásquez said. Approximately 180 people arrived on a Peruvian naval ship that has been docked at Seattle’s Pier 66, 2201 Alaskan Way, since April 3. Velasquez requested that 40 naval cadets march in Saturday’s parade and a band will begin the day’s event, he said.

The city is looking forward to the parade, according to Lake Forest Park Mayor Dave Hutchinson. New street signs on Northeast 157th Street include the seals of Lake Forest Park and of Peru and label 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.”

Peruvian crafts will be featured aboard the Peruvian naval ship today, April 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on April 5 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 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.

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