A large Bulgarian delegation led by the Consul General of Bulgaria in Los ‎Angeles, Boyko Hristov, visited the Las Vegas City Hall to officially receive the ‎proclamation declaring May 24 as Bulgarian Cultural Heritage Day in Las Vegas. ‎In the document, Mayor Carolyn Goodman officially invites residents and visitors ‎to the city to also celebrate the 145th anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria and ‎the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between ‎Bulgaria and the United States. ‎

Part of the delegation were representatives of the Bulgarian Association in ‎Nevada, the Bulgarian Business Women's Club, the two Bulgarian schools, the ‎Bulgarian restaurants, the folklore group Zharava, etc., Maria Samichkova, ‎spokeswoman of the Bulgarian Association, reported for Radio Bulgaria, recalling ‎that in Las Vegas again this year the holiday of May 24 was celebrated with a ‎large-scale gathering, where hundreds of compatriots gathered. ‎

"The hot spot in the celebration of May 24 is Las Vegas precisely because of this ‎proclamation," consul Boyko Hristov said specifically to Radio Bulgaria, after the ‎visit to the city's town hall. “I am extremely happy. I was also very moved by the ‎support of the Bulgarians and the strong presence during the handing over of the ‎document. Dozens of compatriots came with me to receive the proclamation, sing ‎and celebrate the holiday together. This proclamation, in addition to recognizing ‎May 24 as the day of the Bulgarian cultural heritage, marks two other very ‎important anniversaries - 145 years of free Bulgaria and 120 years of the ‎establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the USA. And this is a ‎very good start for future initiatives that we will do with the local government."‎

Mr. Boyko Hristov also met with the Women's Business Club in Vegas. This is ‎perhaps the newest Bulgarian organization on the West Coast, in which some very ‎active, successful and ambitious Bulgarian women are members. ‎

‎"Perhaps the first initiative that we will do together with the aim of promoting ‎Bulgaria and Bulgarian achievements is an exhibition and a film screening ‎dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during the ‎Second World War. This is an exceptional reason for pride on the part of the ‎Bulgarian state, because we, together with Denmark, are the only countries that, ‎during one of the greatest evils in the history of mankind, managed to resist the ‎pressure and save our Jews. The Jewish diaspora on the West Bank accepts this ‎part of our history very positively, they constantly support us in its promotion," ‎said Boyko Hristov.‎

Bulgarians in Las Vegas introduced the consul to another of their new initiatives - ‎the creation of the Bulgarian Youth Cultural Club, which aims to maintain ‎Bulgarian traditions and culture across the ocean.‎

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