Haitian-Americans celebrate their heritage

By ALICE GOMSTYN
agomstyn@lohud.com
THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: May 22, 2006)
SPRING VALLEY
The sky at times was an ominous gray, but at the village's Main Street yesterday afternoon, red and blue — the colors of the Haitian flag — ruled the day.
Hundreds braved yesterday's windy and occasionally wet weather to watch or march in the Parade of Unity, an annual event that capped a nearly weeklong celebration of Haitian heritage.
"It's a really good time to celebrate my flag," said Polkinson Attimy, 18, a junior at Ramapo High School who emigrated from Haiti two years ago. "We have a chance to see how everybody's proud to be Haitian."
Attimy is the president of Haitian Circle of Friends, a club at the high school. The club was one of about 10 groups and organizations that marched in the parade, which began just after 3 p.m. at Village Hall. Other marchers included groups from the Rockland Family Shelter, the New Beginnings after-school program, the Haitian culture Web site www.akolad.com, Paul Miller Toyota, the East Ramapo Marching Band, the Sinai Church Pathfinders and the parade's lead sponsor, IFG Productions, which organized the event with the Haitian American Cultural and Social Organization.
Jacques Philippe, the president of the HACSO board who emigrated from Haiti about 40 years ago, served as the parade's grand marshal.
The parade, Philippe said, "is a big opportunity for us to be together."
The parade route was lined with children and adults, many waving Haitian flags or wearing Haitian bandannas, T-shirts and arm bands. But not everyone cheering on the marchers was of Haitian descent.
Skylar Hamrick, 17, and two friends, all from Mahwah, were in Spring Valley yesterday for a rock concert at the Ramapo Cultural Arts Center when they stumbled upon the parade. Impressed by the display, Hamrick bought a red-and-blue arm band.
"I like people having pride in something," Hamrick said. "It's good to see."
The parade ended in Spring Valley Memorial Park, where organizers held a show featuring songs and poetry by various performers, dance performances by youth and adult groups from Troupe Choucoune, music from the East Ramapo Marching Band and a presentation by the Pathfinders' drill team.
In addition to the entertainment, several organizers and Haitian community members, some speaking in French and Creole as well as English, addressed the crowd to speak about their Haitian heritage and the importance of community involvement. Four members of IFG Productions also presented a skit to raise awareness of AIDS.