8.31.2026 - 20th Anniversary of the Portas da Cidade - Gates of the City

Good morning, everyone.

And what a wonderful morning it is.

Here we are at this momentous occasion where we will celebrate the 20-year history of this beautiful monument that stands behind you.

I actually have the best view in the house.

I'm looking at handsome and beautiful faces amongst me, and of course I look at the gates.

But it is quite a momentous occasion.

Quite a momentous not only morning, but a weekend and a year.

We are celebrating not only the 20 years of the Gates of the City, but the 50 years of the political autonomy of the Azores and of Madeira.

And just this weekend, culminating this evening, the 40 years of the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England.

So this is a year of milestones, And we're so honored to be able to celebrate everything here this morning, but primarily the 20 years of the Gates of the City amongst such wonderful and distinguished guests.

So we thank you all for being here this morning.

It is truly a historic moment for the Portuguese community and for the relations between the United States and Portugal, and more specifically between Ponta Delgada and the city of Fall River.

These gates symbolize much more than just a Portuguese monument.

When you stand here and you look at them, you look at an exact replica of what is standing in Ponta Delgada.

Not only the materials, because if you look at it, there is the block, there is the cement, there is the brick, but there is one detail: the basalto, the volcanic stone that came from the Azores.

And that was one of the details that the committee, the initial committee, insisted be a part of this monument to really make it authentic and unique.

As people drive by here in Fall River and look at this monument, they come here to take pictures, weddings are celebrated here, and people who one day left their country sit here and look at it, and sometimes you see tears running down their faces because it captures them in a way that is inexplicable.

I think you have to leave your country and feel the longing, the saudade, for your country to be able to explain Why?

Why you get so sad?

Sad in a happy way, looking at these gates, because it reminds you of home.

But these gates have become much more than a Portuguese monument in Fall River.

They are the welcoming door for the city of Fall River.

So a Portuguese monument serves as the welcoming door for a city in the United States of America.

If that's not special, and if that's not showing the impact the Portuguese community has had in this city, Nothing else does.

So as we look at these gates, it's a reminder not only of the relationship between the two countries, but of the sacrifices the Portuguese made to establish a new life here in the United States of America, and the great relationship in the form that all of us integrated in one way or another in all walks of life in this great city.

So today is a very special day, and I thank each and every one of you for being here.

We will recognize many of you here later on towards the end of this ceremony.

I'd like to invite His Excellency Professor Dr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the former President of Portugal, and the Vice President of the Municipal Council of Ponta Delgada, Dr. Pedro Furtado, to join here the flag of Portugal and also the flag of the city of Ponta Delgada for the flag raising.

And I also invite Senator Michael Rodrigues and Mayor Paul Coogan to join the U.S. flag and the municipal flag of Fall River.

Before we go on, this, uh, these gates, the story of these gates, although was in 2006 when they were finally inaugurated, but the official relationship goes back to 1978 when Ponte Delgada and Fall River became sister cities.

But obviously that relationship starts way before there when the first port Portuguese immigrants came to this city and became part of this city's fabric.

I'd like to recognize the committee members that were responsible for making this happen 20 years ago.

But in a special way, I'd like to have everyone stand for a moment of silence to recognize the 4 individuals who unfortunately are no longer with us but worked tirelessly for this to happen.

And I will mention them: Raul Benevides, Liberal Silva, Alfredo Alves and Fernando Garcia.

A moment of silence, please.

Thank you.

I ask you to please remain standing so that we can hear the national anthems.

And first, we will hear the Portuguese national anthem.

And as we hear the anthem, Both the flag of Portugal and the flag of the city of Ponta Delgada will be raised by our distinguished guests.

And now, the Star-Spangled Banner, and Senator Michael Rodrigues will raise the U.S. flag, and Mayor Paul Coogan will raise the flag of the City of Fall River.

And the anthems and the flag raising was also accompanied by the honor guard of the Fall River Police Department.

Thank you to them for being here this morning.

You may be seated.

And it is truly special.

We couldn't— if we wrote the story about today or this weekend, it wouldn't be possible.

Stars aligned, and we have the honor and the privilege of having the former President of Portugal, Professor Dr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, with us this morning.

We have the honor of having His Excellency Dr. José Manuel Bulheiro, President of the Azores, here with us.

And we also have the honor of having the Vice President of the Municipal Council of Ponte Delgada, which the symbolism is here obviously with the gates of the city.

So the stars aligned, the great feasts of the Holy Ghost helped along the way in inviting these distinguished guests, and we are honored that you accepted the invitation and are here this morning with us.

I'd like to call to the podium right now the gentleman who will be giving the welcoming remarks.

Not only is he the current mayor of the city of Fall River, He is also by extension the mayor of the 10th island of the Azores.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Honorable Paul Coogan.

Thank you, thank you, thank you everybody for coming out on this gorgeous day at the gates in the city of Fall River.

Bom dia and good morning everyone.

Distinguished dignitaries from Portugal and the Azores, local elected officials, and members of the Port of Sedona Advisory Committee, the Prince Henry Society, community leaders, and most importantly, the people of Fall River.

Welcome to Ponte Delgada Boulevard.

20 years ago, a vision was realized right here on our waterfront.

When the flags were raised and the anthems played at the original dedication, this city didn't just build a monument, we built a gateway.

Today we stand before the gates of the city to celebrate 2 decades of a landmark that has come to define the identity and strength and the heart of Fall River.

These gates are constructed of stone, but they are built on a foundation of shared history.

For 20 years, they have stood as a powerful, unmistakable symbol of Fall River's deep Portuguese and Azorean roots.

They remind every resident of where they came from, and they welcome every visitor with warmth and hospitality.

To our esteemed guests who traveled from across the Atlantic to be with us today, your presence reinforces the enduring bond between these communities.

Fall River and Ponta Delgada are not just sister cities on paper, we are a family separated by an ocean but connected forever by our heritage, culture, and a shared vision.

An anniversary like this should be a time of reflection, but more importantly, is it a time for gratitude.

We would not be standing here today without the immense vision, dedication, and cooperation of so many individuals that Ricardo mentioned earlier.

We owe a massive debt to these community leaders and that strong advisory committee, the Prince Henry Society, and everyday citizens who worked tirelessly to bring these gates to Fall River.

Your hard work ensured that our children and our children's children will always have a physical reminder of the proud heritage that built this city.

As we look through the arches today, we celebrate not just the stone structure, but the living, breathing community it represents.

Let us continue to honor our history, strengthen our cultural ties, and look forward to the next 20 years of friendship, growth, and pride.

Thank you again for all being here.

Obrigado, and may God bless the city of Fall River and all of you.

Thank you, Mayor Coogan.

Now to have greetings from the city of Ponta Delgada, it is my honor to introduce to you the Honorable Vice President of the Municipal Council of Ponta Delgada, Dr. Pedro Furtado.

Good morning, everyone.

Such a nice morning.

A very good choice of date, Mr. Mayor.

I have a 10-page speech to make, but some— someone advised me to go shorter, so I, I will try, because in Portugal we, we love big We love to, we love to talk, to speak, so I will try to go shorter.

Mr. Mayor of the City of Fall River, Paul Coogan.

Senhor Antigo Presidente da República Portuguesa, Professor Marcelo Rebelde Sousa, Excelência.

É uma muita honra tê-lo aqui hoje celebrar os 20 anos das Portas da Cidade.

A mesma honra que nos deu em 2018 quando escolheu Ponta Delgada para a celebração do Dia de Portugal.

Muito obrigada.

Senador, senador Michael Rodrigues.

Senhor Presidente do Governo Regional dos Açores, José Manuel Bolheira.

Excelência.

Também aqui como ex-presidente da Câmara Municipal de Ponta Delgada, que esteve cá há 10 anos, a quando da celebração Do décimo aniversário das portas da cidade aqui em Fall River, former mayor of the city of Fall River, Edward Lambert.

Finally, I get to know you.

Thank you for everything you've done for the Zúrian people.

Senhora presidente da Comissão de Organização das Grandes Festas do Divino Espírito Santo em Nova Inglaterra, Márcia Souza da Ponte.

Queria dedicar breves palavras de agradecimento pelo trabalho que tens feito.

Ontem, quando terminaram aquela parte da procissão e o teu chorar, eu revi-me nele, porque é o chorar de quem está aliviado, que fez um bom trabalho.

E tu estás de parabéns, porque ontem reparei na missa que tinha 20 cruas do Espírito Santo, e o teu trabalho tem sido esse.

Resgatar todas essas mordemias, essas comissões, e elas todos estão nesta festa por causa da tua maneira de ser, da tua simplicidade, a fazer jus ao grande Artur de Sousa, que em boa hora inaugurou estas festas em Fólio Riva, e portanto tu estás bem na senda dele.

Queria também cumprimentar o seu presidente da Casa dos Açores da Nova Inglaterra, Francisco Viveiros, pelo ótimo trabalho que tem feito.

Cumprimentar o subdiretor regional das comunidades, Doutor Jean Andrade.

Quer que digam, não é a minha amizade que fala, mas é de longe o melhor diretor das comunidades que um governo regional do Zé Sul já alguma vez teve.

E portanto, para ele também uma grande salva de palmas, que tem sido muito injustiçado, principalmente nas redes sociais.

Queria também cumprimentar the different political representatives of the state of Massachusetts.

Caros imigrantes, os sirianos, caros amigos, caros amigos.

I would like to begin my remarks by expressing my deep appreciation and gratitude to Mayor Paul Cogan for organizing this excellent initiative of celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Gates of Punta Delgada in the city of Fall River.

As well as the City Gates Advisory Committee and to the Society Infant do Henrique.

The story of Ponta Delgada gates in Fall River did not begin 20 years ago.

The story that we celebrate today began to be written long before these gates were raised here.

The city gates of Ponta Delgada were built in the year about 243 years ago, in the year 1783, just 7 years after the founding date of this great nation that is the United States of America.

In 1978, Fall River and Ponta Delgada decided to formalize a closeness that our people had already begun to build.

Through the hands of Carlos Putencourt and Carlton Viveiros, the mayors of the 2 cities at the time, a sister city partnership was born, giving expression to the human, emotional, and cultural relationship that the Atlantic could never separate.

And since that— since then, each generation has added a new chapter to this story.

The connection between the 2 cities all became inscribed with the urban space itself.

Ponta Delgada named one of these streets after Fall River, and Fall River responds by honoring our city with Ponta Delgada Boulevard.

In 2005, the mayor of Ponta Delgada, Berta Cabral, and the mayor of Fall River, Edward Lampert laid the foundation stone of what would become this replica of the city gates.

At that moment, Berta Cabral said, and I quote, Ponta Delgada never forgets its children.

Now these beautiful words continue, continue to reflect in a beautiful way the spirit with which the current municipality of Punta Delgada looks open to the immigrant community and the Azores diaspora.

Now I'm passing the speech.

Just a moment, please.

Punta Delgada is today, today a global gateway of arrival and opportunity.

Punta Delgada has undergone a profound transformation.

Today it stands proudly as a city of arrivals rather than departures.

The historic docks that once witnessed the emotional farewells of thousands of immigrants boarding the ships for distant, for distant lands have reinvented themselves.

In the modern era, the city cruise terminal has become the bustling crossroads of international travel.

It hosts between 100 and 150 cruise ships that call annually as vessels navigated between Europe and and Americans.

This vibrant marine traffic brings approximately 8,000 global passengers ashore each year, breathing internet— bringing international life into the heart of the city.

The shift from the point of origin to the land of permanence is clearly reflected in the local demographics, driving the new residents from all corners of the world The population of Ponta Delgada has grown approximately 4% since 2021.

The city is now very close to reaching its historic population peak last seen in the 1960s.

Currently, foreign residents make up about 3.5% of the local population, representing around 100 different nationalities.

This demographic influx is heavily supported by a thriving job market.

Strong employment rates across the Azores have reached historic heights due to effective regional government policies.

Tourism serves a major economic catalyst, generating except and direct employment.

In 2026, the local airport hosts About 16 operating airlines, including Lufthansa, British Airways, Transavia, Air Canada, WestJet, and United Airlines, have begun operating direct flights from Rovaniemi to New York since May 2022, connecting thousands of North Americans' travel directly to the unique beauty of the North.

The structural growth has become powerful in the macroeconomy.

Ponta Delgada has confirmed undisputed its role as the powerhouse of the Azores economy, contributing about 35 to 40% of the regional GDP.

In recent years, the city has doubled in hotels, beds capacity.

The strategy, local municipal policy of low taxes and favorable fiscal incentives continues to attract substantial foreign direct investment.

Through these balanced efforts, Punta delgado is working hard to build more— a modern future that secures that its population while welcoming those arriving from abroad.

The city looks ahead with a clear, unique vision to remain a proud place of welcome and a true door of arrival from the world.

Mr. Mayor of the City of Fall River, Paul Coogan, my final words is to say that 20 years after this inauguration, this inauguration is to ensure a bridge between Fall River and Ponta Delgada to remain alive.

May these gates remain open, open to our friendship, open to progress.

There are doors, many doors, that serve only to enter and to leave.

These doors in Fall River were built so they would never never be apart.

Long live United States of America.

Long live Portugal.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Dr. Pedro Furtado, Honorable Vice President of the Municipal Council of Ponte Delgada.

Now to offer greetings from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a great friend of our community, Senator Michael Rodrigues.

Thank you, Ricardo.

Good morning, everyone.

Good morning, everyone.

It's great to see everyone.

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years.

I remember that day 20 years ago where I had the opportunity to speak at that event, and I looked out at a crowd with many of the same faces that I see looking back at me today, although many of us sported a little less gray hair 20 years ago.

But it's been 20 years that we've been honored in Fall River to host this amazing— the amazing Gates of the City.

And to Mr. President, Your Excellency, President Bolsonaro, Your Excellency, to all our friends from across the Atlantic, even though there are some new faces here today, the passion and the commitment to ensure that the Atlantic doesn't serve as a wall but a bridge to bring these both great countries and both great cities together.

And on behalf of my colleagues from the state legislative delegation who are here today, Representative Steve Willette, Representative Carol Fiola, Representative Alan Silvia, and Representative Tony Cabral, I'd like to say that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts stands firmly beside the city of Fall River in welcoming and honoring and loving the relationship that we have with the country of Portugal in general and the Azores in particular.

And I'd like to say I can remember 20 years ago at the inaugural celebration, I heard so many comments, look at the gates, just like they have in Ponta Delgada.

Today when I go to Ponta Delgada and I hear so many comments in English at the gates, they look at the gates just like they have in the city of Fall River.

So it's a bilateral symbol from these 2 great cities.

So thank you all for being here.

I look forward to another 20 years.

Let me just give another shout out to the Prince Henry Society of Fall River, to Mayor Coogan and the administration for keeping these— this property so well maintained and for hosting so many amazing events and festivals on this piece of property.

So thank you all.

Thank you, Senator Michael Rodrigues.

Now, to provide brief remarks on the history of the gates of the city, a man who worked tirelessly, rolled up his sleeves, prepared his beautiful voice, his beautiful singing voice, to speak on behalf of the city in trying to get these gates built.

It is with great honor that we introduce the former mayor of Fall River, Mr. Edward Lambert.

Thank you.

Obrigado.

There'll be no singing today.

Today, at least not for me.

Welcome, all of you.

Bom dia, todos meus amigos.

It's a great pleasure to be here with with all of you, President de Sousa, President Bolheiro, Vice President Furtado.

Parabéns on the 50th anniversary of the autonomy of the Azores and the relationship that we have with Portugal, as you've heard from so many other speakers, is just.

So important to us and to our elected officials, members of the Prince Henry Society, the members of the Gates Committee who are here.

Thank you very much for sharing in this incredible day.

I was going to start with a, you know, that little joke about how you can tell the elected officials from the former elected officials when they're in the crowd: the formers are the ones without ties.

But as usual, Mayor Coogan has wanted to make me feel very comfortable And I really appreciate that because he knows, he knows the kinship that we have in the club that are former mayors.

And I know that he would agree with me when he says what a privilege it is, and for me it was, to have been able to serve my city as mayor.

You know, as a boy from a working-class family from the Flint section of the city, we never traveled very much.

We never got far away from Fall River.

So imagine when I first got elected mayor, took the longest trip I ever took, was to Ponta Delgada.

In our first year of the administration, 25 of us or so went out and started to solidify and cement those relationships that had begun when Mayor Rivera took the step of declaring Ponta Delgada a sister city.

And it certainly opened my eyes not just to the greatness of the world, but this very special relationship that Fall River has with Ponta Delgada, with the Azores, and with the Portuguese, the people of Portugal generally.

And so it was my privilege to lead a city that is made up of immigrants from all over the world who came here not looking for a handout, but looking for a hand up, who came looking for opportunity, who wanted to be welcomed to be part of the fabric of a community where they and their families could succeed.

And most notably in those waves of immigration that came to our city was the sustained immigration from Portugal and the Azores and the island of São Miguel.

The work ethic, the commitment to family, the pride in property and community, and Fall River was blessed to have been enriched by its relationship with the Portuguese who emigrated, who integrated, and became the leaders of our community.

And so imagine my joy and happiness at an offer that was made to me that was too good to refuse.

Bertha Cabral, my dear friend, who we certainly should remember here today, who's continuing her service for the country of Portugal, She and I and a few others had, I think, about a 3-hour lunch at the TA.

Al Alves hosted us, and there was discussion, and she brought it up and initiated it, of a joint project between our sister cities.

Ponta Delgada would provide the materials if we would locate and construct it.

And I have to say, it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make as mayor.

Sure, it was supported by a little pork à la Tijana, maybe a little maciera, but the fact is that what an opportunity to solidify that relationship but also create something very, very special for our community down here on this waterfront.

And given the strong ties that already existed, we would certainly meet that generous offer made by our brothers and our sisters and our friends in Ponta Delgada.

It allowed us here to highlight, as has already been alluded to, the central tenet of who we are as a people in Fall River: a welcoming city, a place that is a gateway of opportunity, our own Portas da Cidade on our own waterfront saying welcome, shouting bem-vindo to all who might come.

And this plaza, which really was the dream of our organizing committee, to make sure it wasn't just an infrastructure symbol, but that it was a place for gathering, for celebrating our culture, for remembering who we are, we are, and celebrating our success.

There are so many people who helped make this happen, and you've heard some of their names, but I remember so fondly the work done by the committee, and particularly those who have passed: Raul Benavides, Al Al's, Fernando Garcia, our friend in the business, for those of you who remember his commercials, And of course, Liberal Silva, who recently departed from us, who I have to say without going into great detail was the problem solver in the group.

We mentioned the basalto.

It was so important for that stone to be part of the DNA of this monument, this gateway, and the challenge that we had when a number of contractors said.

Yeah, they just weren't sure they could make that happen because the climate is different, etc., etc.

Nobody wanted to take on that responsibility, but Liberals stepped up and said, oh, we'll make it happen.

And he did make it happen.

And he made it happen in a way that, as a non-engineer, I'll never understand.

But that's who he was, and that's who the people were who wanted to see this happen in such a significant way.

Frank Cabral, thank you for your leadership.

Of our committee.

Thank you to all who served in that, in that effort.

So as we move forward now, it is the responsibility of all of us to maintain the sustainability of this monument, to solve the problems that we might have together, but to make sure that it's not just a moment in time that brings us together every anniversary to celebrate, But it has deep meaning for us as a people.

It's time now for current and future generations to embrace this for what it is, to recognize that going forward it is part of who we can be, and that is what will be the call to action, I think, for all of us upon this anniversary.

Moi tov u'dagad.

Thank you so much for your presence here today and for your commitment to the symbols that these gates represent.

Thank you.

Thank you, former Mayor Lamberts.

I just want to recognize something Mayor Lamberts did here.

When elected officials become close friends that are not Portuguese, become close friends to the Portuguese community, they tend to learn some Portuguese.

But how do you know it's an elected official from Fall River?

If you noticed everything in Portuguese he said, he said with a São Miguel accent.

Which is impressive and it's beautiful at the same time.

So thank you, former Mayor Lambert.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce to you— it gives me great honor to introduce to you a great individual who's been part of these 20 years of history of the Gates of the City.

As was mentioned earlier, he was here 10 years ago as the mayor of Ponta Delgada to help celebrate the 10th anniversary, and here he is 10 years later as the maximum leader of the government of the Azores.

So ladies and gentlemen, His Excellency Dr. José Manuel Bolheiro, President of the Regional Government of the Azores.

What a great morning for today, but special, a great day, a great morning for our historical friendship and relationship across the Atlantic.

I'm emotional with this event and with all memories that brings us this celebration.

Mr. Mayor of the City of Fall River, Paul Cogan, it's a pleasure to be here with you again, and I heard very proudly that you will prepare A bigger space for us, maybe for the next times.

Thank you very much.

Senhor antigo presidente da República Portuguesa e bom amigo, professor doutor Marcelo Rebelo Sousa, Excelência sabe que a honra da sua presença eleva a dimensão da celebração e a relação entre Portugal e os Estados Unidos.

Que bom, na sua característica pessoal mais do que a institucional, estar presente para também ajudar a história a ser mais significativa.

Muito obrigado pela sua presença.

Senator Michael Rodrigues, dear friend.

It's a pleasure with you symbolize all the legislators in the states that represent not only the United States and democracy, but also Portugal and our common identity.

Thank you to be here again after the inauguration of this Portas da Cidade.

Sobre o diretor regional das comunidades, que às vezes parece estar mais tempo nos Estados Unidos que nos Açores, e entre as nossas comunidades, o meu cumprimento e na sua pessoa também todas as autoridades diplomáticas portuguesas aqui presentes, que muito nos honram.

Former mayor of the city of Fall River, Edward Lambert, dear friend.

As you said here, our relationship—it's not only a monument; is really a common cultural identity.

And that's a pleasure that to hear you saying about that.

Thank you very much, Senhora Presidente da Comissão da Organização das Grandes Festas, que conjugadamente nos permitiu estar para celebrar 40 anos.

Das grandes festas, 20 anos das portas da cidade.

Uma e outra coisa são a razão e são a consequência.

São causa do fazer e também são uma consequência da nossa identidade comum entre Portugal, os Açores e os Estados Unidos.

Muito obrigado pelo seu esforço.

Caro Presidente da Casa dos Açores da Nova Inglaterra, Sem prejuízo do papel da embaixada de Portugal, dos senhores cônsules aqui, a Casa dos Açores é sempre a embaixada dos Açores e da açorianidade.

E portanto também a minha saudação pelas dinâmicas que propicia, não apenas para reunir, para celebrar e evocar, mas sobretudo para exaltar a açorianidade e a multiculturalidade dos Estados Unidos.

Muito obrigado também.

Different political representatives of the state of Massachusetts, dear friends, on this 20th anniversary of the city gates of Fall River, I offer a warm and heartfelt greetings to the city and to its mayor.

Through him, I honor the former president of Ponta Delgada, and the former mayor of the Fall River who, 20 years ago, made the construction of these gates possible.

Their vision and dedication created the symbol we celebrate today.

Dear Edward Lambert and my good friend Berta Cabral, she isn't here because she has another affair there in Ponta Delgada, but she's in my heart.

This gate reminds us of the deep and historic bond between the Azores and the United States.

For generations, Azoreans crossed the Atlantic with courage and hope, finding in America a land that welcomed them and to which they gave, they gave honesty, hard work, and intelligence.

Their contribution strengthened communities, enriched the economy, and deepened the transatlantic partnership.

The sister city union between Fall River and Ponta Delgada is a living symbol of this friendship.

It speaks of shared roots, shared pride, and shared destiny.

May these gates continue to stand as a tribute to our history, our common history, our gratitude, and the enduring ties that unite Fall River and Azorean people.

Thank you for this great day.

Thank you, Mr. President of the Azores.

And now it is with great honor and pleasure that I introduce to you a man who, during his 10-year term as President of Portugal, served with great pride and made us all proud.

He was not only President of the more than 10 million living within the boundaries of Portugal, but the millions living outside of Portugal as well.

And today we have great pleasure, pride in talking to him, taking selfies with him, which is very traditional and has been traditional throughout these past 10 years.

But it is truly a great honor to have him here on this ceremony of the 20 years of the Portas da Cidade.

Ladies and gentlemen, a great round of applause for His Excellency, the former President of of the Republic of Portugal, Professor Dr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Dear Mayor, dear Senator, dear former Mayor, dear President of the Azores, dear Deputy President of the Council, Ponta Delgada, Dear representative of the Portuguese Ambassador, dear Consul, dear honorable dignitaries, special word for the representatives, old friends, old friends, we have met several times in the last 10 years.

Dear Prince Henri, Society, dear Pedro Quebrón.

Well, Excellencies, dear friends, everything that is important in life is simple.

If something appears to be very complex, it's because it's not important.

And this is simple, this ceremony, but very meaningful, very symbolic, very important for all of us for 2 reasons.

The first one is that the first gates were built in Ponta Delgada, 1783.

Just imagine, as it has been said, Just a few years before your independence, your revolution and your independence.

Portugal had a king.

It was an absolute king with full powers.

But in spite of it, Ponta Delgada built.

A gate, a gate for the future.

And the gate means opening the arms, accepting people, receiving people, receiving ideas, being open to the world.

It was so important knowing Portugal at that time, knowing the world at at that time, what it meant.

And that's why Portugal was the first non-Allied country to support the new state, United States of America, against all the empires and all the kingdoms in Europe.

It is really very symbolic.

And since then, Ponta Delgada and São Miguel and Azores and Portugal are just the same, opening the arms and receiving friends.

And in those friends, special friends and brothers, those that go from Fall River, from New England, from United States, Second reason why it is symbolic but simple: so many years afterwards, you built here the gate in Fall River, and it is symbolic because it meant receiving, opening the Alps.

Receiving the people going from Ponta Delgada, but also from São Miguel, from all the islands of Azores, from Azores and even from Madeira and continental Portugal, but mostly from Azores.

You were being grateful because they already were living here.

For very long.

They had fought with American soldiers at the end of the First World War.

They had fought with American soldiers at the end of the Second World War.

They had been coming to your country since the end of the 19th century, beginning of the 20th century.

They were here.

And you knew them.

You knew that the Azorean, as a Portuguese, as a global people, they are hardworking, they are trustable, they are loyal, they are sweet people.

They accept the traditions, the uses, and Very quickly they wanted to be Americans and they were Americans.

Grandparents today, parents, children, grandchildren, so many generations.

And here they are.

We saw it in the parade.

We even saw it in the the procession and in the Mass, meaning that it was worthwhile, this gesture of gratitude at Eastgate.

We are so moved that also our gratitude is immense.

Gratitude to Fall River, to New England, to United States.

We know how you received us and you made us happy, very happy.

At the same time, we were making a little bit of you all happy.

We found a way of being happy together.

That's why there are mayors, representatives, senators in some states and at the federal level.

This means that it's impossible.

To separate the roots, the Azorean roots and the American roots.

They are so strong, so strong.

So this gate is very, very symbolic, but the real gate In Ponta Delgada, as in Fall River, it's common people that goes on living peacefully and being happy here and accepting what they owe in their own places of living today in Portugal, some of the few that still belong to the families and they live there.

And this is unique, unique, not even with neighboring countries in Europe who have this kind of relationship.

Thank you very very much.

Thank you.

God bless Fall River.

God bless Ponta Delgada.

God bless the United States of America.

God bless Portugal.

Thank you so much, Your Excellency, former President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

And I must say, I must humbly say that he is without a doubt, although his extreme competence, but he is without a doubt the most people-friendly president in the history of Portugal.

And thank you for that.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, before closing remarks, I'd like to recognize many of you who are here this morning, who are part of this historical morning here in Fall River.

I would like to start with the Dr. Tiago Cabrita de Sousa, Portuguese Consul in New Bedford, thank you for your presence here this morning.

Dr. Zé Andrade, Director of the Azorean Communities for the Regional Government of the Azores, thank you for your presence.

Dr. Pedro Carneiro, Deputy Chief of Mission from the Portuguese Embassy in Washington and a great friend of this community, thank you so much for being here.

Dr. Pedro Furtado, Vice President of the Municipal Council of Ponta Delgada, thank you so much.

Of course, our distinguished guests of honor, Doutor José Manuel Bulheiro, President of the Regional Government of the Azores.

Professor Dr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, former President of the Portuguese Republic.

Local dignitaries, thank you, Mayor Paul Coogan, for being here this morning.

Massachusetts State Senator and Chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Senator Michael Rodrigues.

Massachusetts State Representative Allian Sylvia.

Massachusetts State Representative Carol Fiola.

Massachusetts State Representative Stephen Ouellette.

Massachusetts State Representative António Cabral.

Former Mayor of Fall River Edward Lambert, retired Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court Judge Philip Raposa, thank you for being here this morning as well.

We'd like to also recognize the Portas da Cidade Advisory Committee members: Chair Mr. David Rocha, Co-Chair Maria Ferreira Bedard, thank you so much, former Chair Francisco Cabral, Lisa Cabral, Kevin Santos, and Michael Benevides.

Thank you so much for being being here this morning.

Other guests as well, and occupying 3 titles here this morning: Márcia Souza de Pontes, Director or the President of the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England, the Counselor of the Portuguese Communities and Counselor of the Azorean Diaspora; Francisco Viveiros, Director of the Casa dos Açores da Nova Inglaterra; Fernando Farinha, President of the State Chapter of the Prince Henry Society; and representatives from the 3 chapters of the Prince Henry Society here in New Bedford, actually here in Massachusetts, from New Bedford, from Fall River, and from Taunton.

Doutora Odete Morel, a professor from Bristol Community College, and all distinguished guests here.

I'd also like to recognize from Canada the counselor of the Azorean Diaspora, Matthew Correia.

And I'd like to, on behalf of everyone here and those that love the Portas da Cidade in Fall River, give you well wishes.

In just under 3 weeks, Brampton in Ontario, Canada will also inaugurate the gates of the city there.

His Excellency the President of the Azores will be there for that great occasion, and we hope that it serves Brampton just as well as it served Fall River throughout these past 20 years.

So best wishes to you in Canada.

And also recognize everyone else.

I know sometimes when you mention all by name There's always, always the chance that we forget someone, and of course I will hear it for that in just a little while.

So, but ladies and gentlemen, in closing, um, if we look over there, actually if all of you look slightly to your left, this is the best view in Fall River.

We have the gates and we have the Braga Bridge all in one.

Braga Bridge, a Portuguese name as well.

And for those of you from out of town who may not know That right there is the largest bridge in the world.

It connects the United States to Portugal.

So if 20 years ago that was the maximum symbol of the city of Fall River, along with the battleship, 20 years later when you think of Fall River, you don't only think of that bridge, but you think of this monument, this Portuguese monument before us, the Portas da Cidade.

And ladies and gentlemen, the word Porta in Portuguese, and a direct translation means door.

Gates would be portão.

But because in America we like to make things great, we call it Gates of the City.

But I will refer to it as the Doors, as great Portuguese that we are.

Whether it be the 1783 Doors in Ponta Delgada, whether it be the 2006 Doors here in Fall River, or the 2026 Doors which will be inaugurated shortly in Brampton, Canada.

In today's day and date, we must lock all doors, unfortunately, because that's how society is.

But I can guarantee you one thing: these doors being Portuguese, no matter what happens, they will always be open for everyone to come through.

Thank you everyone.

God bless America.

God bless Portugal.

And God bless everyone who has made this possible.

Thank you.