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HAMMONTON—The Puerto Rican Civic Association of Hammonton is celebrating their 65th anniversary during Puerto Rican Week where four community members will be honored.
The celebration starts on Sunday, August 25 at noon with a service at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish/St. Joseph Church followed by a procession then at 1:30 p.m. there will be a flag raising ceremony at town hall.
During the ceremony, there will be a dedication to Fernando “Freddie” Melendez, one of the founders of the Puerto Rican Civic Association (PRCA) who passed away last year on November 28, 2023.
PRCA President Edwin Negroni said Melendez helped Puerto Rican migrant workers be informed about their rights.
Some of the things Melendez did include helping Puerto Rican families enter their children to the school district and assist with voter registration so the Spanish community could be heard.
“When the Puerto Ricans started coming here, they were just another group minority that came in and they went to cultivate, pick up the berries, fruits, vegetables. And as they adapted themselves here and mingled, they progressed. The children went to schools. They became bilingual. At the time when the migrants came in, they were not fluent in English at all, but Freddie was more of an interpreter helping them. If they needed to seek some type of legal advice, he would know where to point them out to the right direction,” Negroni said.
During last year’s 64th annual festival, Melendez was given an honor while he was alive.
“When we had Freddie last year, something he mentioned to us was that he was very surprised that it was still here, the Puerto Rican Civic Association,” Negroni said. “He was very pleased seeing the recognition that we did and to let him know that we’re here to continue what he started, so he was very pleased to hear that and I’m pleased as to what we have accomplished,” Negroni said.
Immediately after the ceremony at town hall, there will be a reception at the PRCA Clubhouse from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. where there will be music from DJ Tuedy Sonido Clave.
At the Clubhouse, Negroni said there will be a dedication to Business Person of the Year, which will be announced at the event.
Puerto Week will continue on Friday, August 30, which is the day being dedicated in memory of Abigail Perez, a longtime member of the PRCA who passed away on April 3, 2024.
Perez was Negroni’s sister-in-law.
“She was very fond about the festivity, and being that the Friday is the cultural day where we have Spanish folklore music. She was into that so we’re going to be honoring her that day,” Negroni said.
From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on August 30, there will be music from DJ Tuedy Sonido Clave at the Clubhouse.
On Saturday, August 31, there will be a night of Salsa from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. with music from Alex La Manga and DJ Tuedy Sonido Clave.
On this day, the PRCA will be honoring former PRCA president Edith Hernandez.
“She is considered one of the auxiliary ladies. Back in the day, the auxiliary ladies was a group of females that work parallel with the men of the Puerto Rican Civic Association. They were the ones that get credit because they were the founders of the Puerto Week celebration,” Negroni said.
Hernandez will be assisting the PRCA during the raising of the flags ceremony.
For the last day of celebration on Sunday, September 1, there will be a celebration of Puerto Rican culture. There will be live music from Swing De Guille and DJ Frankie from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Clubhouse. This day is being dedicated to Max Guzman.
While Guzman is not a PRCA member, he does help the Puerto Rican community with bilingual communication on social media to help inform people what’s going on.
Throughout Puerto Rican Week, authentic meals including empanadas, fried dumplings with
codfish inside, rice and beans, roasted pork and roasted chicken will be cooked fresh. There will also be beer and wine for adults.
“Everyone is welcome to come here and join us and see part of our culture, our food as usual that they love and have a great time and commemorate the event,” Negroni said.
The PRCA currently has about 30 members. To join, people can visit the Clubhouse, talk to one of the members and fill out a form. Members must be Puerto Rican descent.
Meetings are the first Sunday of every month at 3 p.m. at the Clubhouse, 367 Old Forks Rd.
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