The Cuban flag was raised in Union City on Tuesday afternoon, as the city celebrated the island’s culture and honored a local resident for his contributions to the medical profession.
Yoanner Bartumeut, an administrator and nurse at Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, received a city proclamation from Commissioner Maryury Martinetti, who first met Bartumeut years ago when her husband was hospitalized.
It turns out that Bartumeut’s wife was a teacher in the Union City school system and happened to be Martinetti’s son’s teacher. Talk about a small world.
Approximately 40 Cuban immigrants attended Tuesday’s flag raising, held in International Park across from City Hall. Commissioner Lucio Fernandez told Hudson TV it is important that these ceremonies are held, saying “Union City is an immigrant community and we want to recognize the residents of all the different nationalities who have contributed so much to our city.”
On Tuesday night, the city continued its Cuban celebration with a dinner held at the Jose Marti STEM Academy.