Borough President James Oddo hosted a Dominican Heritage Celebration at Staten Island Borough Hall. In celebration of the upcoming citywide parade to take place Sunday, August 11, we joined to celebrate Dominican heritage, culture, and food. This ceremony, which took place at Staten Island Borough Hall on Tuesday, June 25th, served as a heritage celebration that was one in a series of kick-off celebrations to take place in all five boroughs.
Before we were honored with Bryan Bautista, NBC’s The Voice Season 10 semi-finalist, performing the United States of America National Anthem, and Tessoro Estrella performing the Dominican National Anthem, Pastor Carlos Jimenz have the evening’s invocation.
Elias Cabrera, retired sergeant-at-arms from the City Council, was presented with a proclamation from Borough President Oddo as an honoree of the evening in addition to an award from the Dominican Day Parade team.
Borough President Oddo was also honored during the ceremony, being named Staten Island’s first Adopted Honorary Dominican by the Dominican Day Parade team.
"Absolutely wonderful vibe in the room at our inaugural Dominican Heritage Celebration. And how great it was to honor Elias Cabrera, who for years was our Chief Sergeant at Arms in the City Council. Such a good man. Thank you Maria Khury & my dear friend Diana Reyna," said Borough President Oddo. "“The fact that you reached out and that you want Staten Island to be associated with the city-wide parade, that you came to us wanting to include all five boroughs, that really means something to us.”
Elias Cabrera was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and was raised by his maternal grandmother till the age of eleven, at which age he came to live with his mother in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He attended P.S. 122, then was accepted to Aviation High School, graduating as an FAA licensed Airframe & Power plant aircraft mechanic. Next, Elias attended New York City Technical College obtaining an Associate Degree in Applied Science. Upon graduation, was drafted into the US Army and after three years, was honorably discharged as a Specialist 5th Class in instrument repair. Elias, married in 1976 to his wife of 42 years Doris, is now a Staten Island resident. At his wife’s urging, he enrolled at City College of New York and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering. During that time he joined the firm Loral Electronic Systems. While employed there, he attended Adelphi University and received an MBA in management.
Their son Alexander was born in 1993, the same year he began his career as the Chief Sgt-at-Arms in The Council of New York City, where for the next twenty years he was responsible for maintaining order and decorum in all council hearings and at the same time provided security along with the NYPD. In retirement, he is staying active in his community by being a member of The Knights of Columbus.
Attendees of the ceremony heard from Maria Khury, DDP Past Chair, Wilton Cedeno, DDP Chair, and Diana Reyna, former City Councilwoman, DDP 2nd Vice Chair, and Director of Borough Events.
Over 40 members of the community attended to celebrate this Dominican Day Heritage Celebration.
Before we were honored with Bryan Bautista, NBC’s The Voice Season 10 semi-finalist, performing the United States of America National Anthem, and Tessoro Estrella performing the Dominican National Anthem, Pastor Carlos Jimenz have the evening’s invocation.
Elias Cabrera, retired sergeant-at-arms from the City Council, was presented with a proclamation from Borough President Oddo as an honoree of the evening in addition to an award from the Dominican Day Parade team.
Borough President Oddo was also honored during the ceremony, being named Staten Island’s first Adopted Honorary Dominican by the Dominican Day Parade team.
"Absolutely wonderful vibe in the room at our inaugural Dominican Heritage Celebration. And how great it was to honor Elias Cabrera, who for years was our Chief Sergeant at Arms in the City Council. Such a good man. Thank you Maria Khury & my dear friend Diana Reyna," said Borough President Oddo. "“The fact that you reached out and that you want Staten Island to be associated with the city-wide parade, that you came to us wanting to include all five boroughs, that really means something to us.”
Elias Cabrera was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and was raised by his maternal grandmother till the age of eleven, at which age he came to live with his mother in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He attended P.S. 122, then was accepted to Aviation High School, graduating as an FAA licensed Airframe & Power plant aircraft mechanic. Next, Elias attended New York City Technical College obtaining an Associate Degree in Applied Science. Upon graduation, was drafted into the US Army and after three years, was honorably discharged as a Specialist 5th Class in instrument repair. Elias, married in 1976 to his wife of 42 years Doris, is now a Staten Island resident. At his wife’s urging, he enrolled at City College of New York and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering. During that time he joined the firm Loral Electronic Systems. While employed there, he attended Adelphi University and received an MBA in management.
Their son Alexander was born in 1993, the same year he began his career as the Chief Sgt-at-Arms in The Council of New York City, where for the next twenty years he was responsible for maintaining order and decorum in all council hearings and at the same time provided security along with the NYPD. In retirement, he is staying active in his community by being a member of The Knights of Columbus.
Attendees of the ceremony heard from Maria Khury, DDP Past Chair, Wilton Cedeno, DDP Chair, and Diana Reyna, former City Councilwoman, DDP 2nd Vice Chair, and Director of Borough Events.
Over 40 members of the community attended to celebrate this Dominican Day Heritage Celebration.
