The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations highlighted in Vila do Porto the "unity among generations" as seen in the regional celebrations of Europe Day promoted by the Regional Government.
 
"We have seen an exemplary day on Santa Maria. It is exemplary because we want to highlight the intergenerational unity that has happened here," said Rui Bettencourt. According to him, "children, young people, teenagers, more mature people and seniors got all involved to take part in the celebrations of Europe Day."
 
"This idea of unity among generations is an example of what the European Union should be" in terms of the unity among peoples and the demonstrations of their diversity," stressed the government official.
 
The Secretary for External Relations also stressed that the celebrations, held Thursday in Vila do Porto, evidence the "vigour of Azorean youth," who want to know more and respond positively to the call to participate in the construction of Europe.
 
"We also saw here an exemplary action: the tribute paid to Santa Maria islanders as European citizens," Rui Bettencourt said, noting that the honourees are "hard-working women with determination and strength," who helped build Santa Maria and the Azores and are an example for young Azoreans.
 
Under the celebrations of Europe Day and the "Alma Mater" project by Santa Maria photographer Pepe Brix, two public art works honouring seven local women were open next to the Vila do Porto Youth Hostel.
 
"They were seven women who, through their actions as Azorean and Santa Maria citizens, have contributed to the progress of Europe," said Rui Bettencourt. On the occasion, he stressed that "the Azores are an important region in the European Union and Azorean citizens are important in the European Union."
 
At the opening session, these women were offered a copy of the front page of Azorean newspapers on the day they were born in a symbolic act.
 
The regional celebrations of Europe Day on the island of Santa Maria involved the school community as well as several associations and entities that collaborated in the educational and cultural initiatives held throughout the day for different schooling levels.
 
The programme began with the performance of the Ode to Joy and an artistic moment before the opening of the mural portraying the thinkers of the European project and the mosaic composed of the flags of European Union countries.
 
In the context of these celebrations, the Regional Secretary delivered an open lecture on "The Azores, Europe and the Future," an event addressed to more than a hundred secondary school student. There were also workshops and educational activities organised by various local entities for students from the 1st to 5th forms on varied subjects, involving about two hundred students.
 
The "Traditional costumes of EU countries" exhibition was also opened at the Youth Hostel, where it may be visited until the end of May.