News & Events >> 2007

2007 Macon Cherry Blossom Festival Spotlights Taiwan

March 19, 2007

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Atlanta joined the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival again this year. Taiwan was a “featured nation,” along with several others. Each nation had a float to represent their countries in the parade through historic downtown Macon. The Taiwan float showcased aboriginal and traditional culture in Taiwan; several young people dressed in tribal attire and a group of kids playing traditional drums sat on the grassy platform underneath a colorful rainbow. The bright colors juxtaposed with Taiwanese traditional influences, presented a balanced Taiwan, rooted in tradition, but looking to the new and the progressive for a bright future.

The float was led by an enthusiastic group of Taiwanese Americans holding a Taiwan banner and chanting for Taiwan. A bright yellow Lunar New Year Lion followed suit, dancing to the drum cadence and involving the more daring of the parade goers as it moved in close to the crowds on the street’s edge. The Taiwan float was a hit and won the William Fickling Award.

Mr. Stanley Kao, Deputy Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington DC, along with his wife Sherry Sung and daughter Scarlett, joined Director General R.C. Wu and Mrs. Rachel Wu of TECO in Atlanta to wave to the crowd from bright red convertible, sports cars that processed in front of the parade. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Allen of Macon, GA served again as hosts to the Director General Wu and TECRO Deputy Representative Stanley Kao. The Allens are long-time friends of Taiwan and grassroots ambassadors who have traveled all over the globe, amassing friends and admirers from many difference nations

The Macon Cherry Blossom Festival is a long-standing point of cultural exchange between TECO in Atlanta and the people of Georgia. Taiwan has had a presence the annual festivities for more 10 years and Taiwan’s float is always a popular sight coming down the length of Cherry Street.

駐亞特蘭大辦事處偕亞城台灣鄉親熱情參與第廿五屆,
梅崗國際櫻花節遊行

在亞特蘭大台灣鄉親的熱情參與下，象徵旭日東升台灣的花車再度在名列美國前50大國際民俗活動的喬治亞州梅崗國際櫻花節遊行中大放異彩，不僅榮獲創辦人「William Fickling」獎，也再次成功地在這個已歷時四分之一世紀的文化活動打響台灣的名聲。

由亞城台灣商會所贊助的獲獎花車，今年仍是委由任職於全美知名Rule Joy Trammell Rubio Architecture公司建築師劉孟周先生義務設計，在簡單明亮的圖樣及線條下襯托，展現了象徵台灣族群融合及旭日初昇的和樂景象，而設計精美的花車再加上亞城歌唱社吳振興社長及儲美芝等僑胞攜家帶眷所表演的舞獅、擊鼓和花車上身穿原住民、旗袍的美少女們等賣力演出，這個花車想不得獎也難。

當天台灣遊行隊伍在台灣駐美代表處副代表高碩泰夫婦及駐亞特蘭大台北經濟文化辦事處處長吳榮泉夫婦分別搭乘的紅色敞篷車領軍下展開，對曾任駐亞特蘭大辦事處的高副代表而言，舊地重遊的溫馨好比「Homecoming Parade」，遊行鄉親們在由亞特蘭大榮光會會長葉竣圖及僑務顧問溫雙鑑所持大型台灣字樣橫幅前導，花車上有多位美少女穿著傳統及原住民服飾，美少女團由王廣敏兩位千金、楊芳庭兩位千金、劉克裕副處長千金及高副代表千金所組成，他們站在花車上向觀眾揮手致意。而負責舞獅的吳振興、儲美芝和他們的公子們，在林欣掌鼓及劉克裕夫人所扮演的笑面虎更是使盡渾身解數，一下翻滾、一下搞笑的讓觀眾們的情緒High到最高點。數十位鄉親昂首闊步的向沿路數以萬計的群眾揮手致意，在客家同鄉會前會長莊秀蘭等人的帶動下，不時喊出「台灣加油」的口號，堪稱是遊行行列中士氣最高昂的一群，而策劃本次遊行活動的亞特蘭大辦事處副處長劉克裕在現場穿梭不停地指揮調度。整個遊行活動在節慶的氣氛中進行近兩個小時，鄉親們雖然腿酸聲啞，但是興奮的神情沒有一絲倦容，而亞城知名古箏演奏家陳淑芳小姐，也在當天國際文化萬花筒之夜，以精湛的演出博得滿堂彩。

已堂堂邁入第廿五週年的梅崗櫻花節，雖然今年在暖冬現象下無花可賞，但是只要有像台灣隊伍這種熱情參與，相信年年都是大有看頭，而亞城鄉親們犧牲週末假日開車大老遠來一起拼國民外交，這種熱誠實在令人感動。

Rev 2/15/08