Springfield celebrates Puerto Rican Heritage Month with annual flag-raising ceremony

Today, Springfield celebrated the beginning of Puerto Rican Heritage Month and 22 news reporter Gabriella Villas-Boas joins us live in the studio with more about the Puerto Rican flag raising at City Hall. That's right. Springfield honored their Puerto Rican community with a flag raising ceremony today at City Hall. They were joined by state and local leaders as well as students and other Puerto Ricans who live here in Western Mass. The start of November marks the beginning of Puerto Rican Heritage Month. To commemorate, the city of Springfield raised a Puerto Rican flag today. They have been raising the Puerto Rican flag every November for the past 37 years. My heart is filled with emotions and pride. This is not only a flag for us, this is our culture, this is our resilience, this is our roots. This event highlighted Puerto Rican community members who stepped up and became leaders. One of which is Springfield's first Puerto Rican fire commissioner, Miguel Rivera. The only thing that I can think of is the next generation. We have people who have paved the way, we have people who are continuing to put in the work, and we have the next generation that is accepting the challenge. Speakers tell us the Puerto Rican flag is a direct message to the next generation of Puerto Ricans here in Springfield, not only as a reminder of their past, but also a promise for hope in the future. I want them to see our flag. I want them to see our community and I want them to see that with one voice we can say you belong, your voice matters. Speakers say that remembering comes with responsibility and they hope to inspire the young Puerto Ricans in the audience today to use their voices. The Puerto Rican flag will remain up outside of City Hall for the remainder of this month. Working for you, I'm Gabriela Villas-Boas, 22 News.