Hola Hermanos de Bangor

(A letter from Carasque read at the PICA dinner celebrating 16 years of Bangor-Carasque sistering, on June 2, 2007.)

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Bangor,

Receive very fond greetings from the community council of Carasque and the community in general. In the first place, we want to thank you for the opportunity to send our message to Bangor that can be read at the big fiesta that you are celebrating. We are joyful and happy because we have sixteen years of being sistered with you.   We are very happy that you are celebrating and we hope to celebrate many more years.   We are going to celebrate but not the same day since it’s the patron saint day of the municipality of Nueva Trinidad in honor of Saint Trinidad. With the support and warmth of all of you, we have big achievements, economic as well as political and moral.   Our organizing has greatly strengthened thanks to you. The interchange of experiences, as much from you as from us, has been very excellent and also gives us much strength.

For the group of people in the sewing, embroidery and crochet co-op, the market that you have opened in Bangor has been a source of work.   We thank you and also admire the strength that you have to work so hard. The support with scholarships for students is also very valuable, since they have to go to Chalatenango to study, and it requires much money. We remember when you gave us the truck and it is a resource we still have and use.

At 16 years we feel very happy to be continuing the monthly phone calls. The delegations that come to spend time with us fill us with much hope and energy. We also remember the delegations from Carasque that went to Bangor, Mario and Julia, and Lupe and Juan.

The family stay of Dennis and Katherine and also of Paul and Karen that were with us for several months sharing time with the whole community. Jon’s support with the computers has been very important, since many people need this. We want to mention that the first television that we had, when the whole community gathered to watch television together, was donated by you.

We feel the support you give us in the resistance to the mining projects is very valuable and means much more because you are doing it from Bangor.   Also the achievement of the U.S. congressmen signing the document against the mines and presenting it to the legislative assembly in El Salvador.   

We are convinced that Bangor and Carasque united, will never be defeated and we know that these efforts are more solid with every passing day now that different organizations and committees, like PICA, MOFGA, Youth Adelantando, Radio WERU, etc. increase the courage of our sisterhood.

The community of Carasque says “presente!”   Que vivan the organizations of Bangor!!!  

There are many more things to say, that have been very good and interesting during these 16 years. A thousand thanks for all the support that you have brought us and may this continue for many more years.

Carasque hugs for everyone! 

¡¡¡ Que viva Bangor y Carasque!!!

And long live the 16th anniversary of sistering of Bangor and Carasque!