WHAT A WONDERFUL
BIRTHDAY

NYC CELEBRATES '350 PLUS ONE'

THE BIRTHDAY CAKE ENJOYED BY ALL

New York Knicks legend Willis Reed said it best last Monday, February 2nd, in celebrating New York City's birthday when he spoke at the official gathering at the New York Mercantile Exchange, in proclaiming " February 2nd should be declared an official holiday throughout New York City every year." Sustained applause greeted the idea from the invited audience of as many as 200 came together to say Happy Birthday New York City.

No one was more pleased with the evening than Roland Rogers, founder and president of the New York City Birthday Committee. Roland has worked tirelessly for the last decade to reawaken New Yorkers to their own birthday and the city's rich early history beginning in the 1600s in Lower Manhattan.

New York Congressman Jerry Nadler kicked off the Ceremonies and spoke passionately about the inclusiveness and tolerance that has characterized this city more than any other beginning with the city's birth. Congressman Nadler was followed to the podium by both current NYC Council member Yvette Clark, and her mother former Council member Una Clark who echoed Congressman Nadler and as an immigrant family from the island of Jamaica, both these distinguished New Yorkers presented clear evidence to Congressman Nadler's words.

Also on the program was NYS Deputy Secretary of State Patrice M. Le Melle, and Ed Winters, a top official with the Boys Scouts of America who brought a contingent of Scouts with him who presented the Colors and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Winters spoke of the willingness of the Scouts to work closely with the New York City Birthday Committee. The Boy Scouts of America were founded on the same date as New York City February 2nd ( 1910 ) in New York City in Flushing, Queens.

The highlight of the evening belonged to veteran author Russell Shorto whose soon to be published book " Island At The Center Of The World " will literally revolutionize our understanding of our city's earliest years during the 1600s when the city was named New Amsterdam. 

In a fascinating presentation that electrified the crowd Mr. Shorto concluded by stating emphatically " February 2, 1653, New York City's birthday as New Amsterdam, is one of the most important dates in American history and lead directly to the Declaration of Independence in 1776."

The formal program concluded with NYC Birthday Committee president Roland Rogers honoring the New York Daily News, and the paper's COO Les Goodstein for the support the Daily News has provided the Birthday Committee all during 2003 and are continuing to provide in 2004.

Mr. Rogers closed the formal program with these words " New York City, is the most unique in all the world. No city in history has had the impact on civilization our city New York City has had, continues to have, and will have in the future. While at the same time in recent years, its citizens and people around the world have been without a true understanding of our city which can only come if we all understand our roots, how our city began, and its history over 350 years. That is the work of the New York City Birthday Committee and I am proud of what all of us have done so far and even more what we will accomplish this year and in years to come. And I pledge as I hope we all do that February 2nd will never be forgotten again, that every year we will gather on February 2nd to celebrate our great city's birthday. Now let's cut the birthday cake !! "

Roland Rogers surrounded by Willis Reed, Congressman Nadler, Russell Shorto, Daily News COO, Les Goodstein and Executive Editor Ira Ellenthal, and others made a wish and cut the beautiful birthday cake for all to enjoy.

Special thanks to the New York Mercantile Exchange, its chairman Vinny Viola, and senior vice presidents Madeline Boyd and Nachaman Jacobovits, who made the birthday celebration possible more than anyone else.

The New York City Birthday Committee will next celebrate the anniversary of the creation of Wall Street with events to take place Friday, March 12,2004. Details will be forthcoming. Please make a note in your calendar.

UNA & COUNCILMEMBER YVETTE CLARK. MERCANTILE V.P. MADELINE BOYD, PRESIDENT ROLAND ROGERS, 
CONGRESSMAN JERRY NADLER, NY DAILY NEWS COO, LES GOODSTEIN AND NY KNICK GREAT WILLIS REED