Mayor proclaims United Nations Day


United Nations Day is marked by an annual anniversary celebration in the Great Hall at the Massachusetts State House. Reminder Publications submitted photo

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor

AGAWAM Next week the town of Agawam will take part in the nationwide observance of the United Nations' 62nd anniversary on United Nations Day on Oct. 24.

In response to a yearly letter sent to every city in Massachusetts by the United Nations Association of Greater Boston, Mayor Richard Cohen issued a proclamation stating that "the citizens of Agawam should participate in all activities related to UN Day," and proclaimed Oct. 24 UN Day in Agawam.

The 2007 anniversary celebration in Boston on Oct. 25 at the State House will focus on this year's "topic of Halting and Reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other infectious diseases, a key focus at the United Nations as the 6th Millennium Development Goal," according to the letter issued by Richard Golob, president of the United Nations Association of Greater Boston.

The Millennium Goals established at the world summits during the 1990s are set for the year 2015. They are aimed at "promoting poverty reduction, education, maternal health, gender equality, and combating child mortality, AIDS and other diseases," according to the UN's Web site.

Cohen said he issued the proclamation to show the town's support for charitable work of the UN and to educate those about their Millennium Development Goals.

"While [the diseases] may not effect each one of us in our neighborhoods, it does effect us globally and we do have an obligation as community leaders to maintain the health and welfare of others born needy," he said.

He added that the global initiatives of the UN are something that every citizen in Agawam should take into consideration as they work to create a "healthier world.as opposed to saying none of this exists."

Erica Sanger, program manager at the United Nations Association of Greater Boston said on average her organization receives between 60 and 80 signed proclamations annually. The proclamations are then hung at the State House for the anniversary celebration.

She said it is the mission of her organization to highlight UN goals. She added that by providing information on international affairs it will help people to "make an impact worldwide."

Sanger noted that the UN Day celebration in Boston provides the opportunity for various humanitarian organizations to "network, share their best practices and be appreciated for their work."

In addition to the UN Day Celebration, the United Nations Association of Greater Boston also provides various other services to promote the work of the UN, such as the model UN for students and other educational and public programs, Sanger noted.

Citizens can mark the day by flying the United Nations flag or attending the ceremony, which will take place from noon to 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The ceremony will include a keynote address by the Massachusetts UN Day chair, a UN Day message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Gov. Deval Partick's UN Day Proclamation and musical entertainment provided by Edward Troxler.

For more information on the United Nations Day anniversary celebration call the United Nations Association of Greater Boston at (617) 482-4587 or visit their Web site at www.unagb.org.