The national flag of the Republic of China has been proudly displayed in front of San Jose City Hall for seven days starting from the 25th. The flag-raising ceremony was organized to celebrate the Double Tenth Day, with San Jose City Councilmember Peter Ortiz expressing his gratitude to the Chinese American Traditional Foundation for their efforts in fundraising to restore the Chinese Cultural Park, which had been damaged by homeless individuals.

Peter Ortiz covered the costs of the ceremony himself. His district is home to the Chinese Cultural Park, established in 1971 and gifted to the city by the Republic of China government. Every brick and tile in the park’s Chinese architecture comes from Taiwan. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, many of these structures were vandalized, prompting the Chinese American Traditional Foundation to initiate a community fundraising campaign aimed at restoring the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and other buildings within the park.

Ortiz mentioned the vital role that Taiwanese leaders in politics, business, and technology have played throughout San Jose’s history and expressed his appreciation for the foundation’s work in facilitating the park’s restoration.

The restoration project for the Chinese Cultural Park, spearheaded by the Chinese American Traditional Foundation, will unfold in two phases. The initial fundraising goal is set at $3 million, with the first phase of restoration expected to begin on June 1, 2025. This phase will focus on the critically important Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, which is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2026. The foundation also plans to continue fundraising to cover the park’s ongoing maintenance needs.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan thanked the Taiwanese community in San Jose, emphasizing the city’s 40-year sister city relationship with Tainan, Taiwan. He highlighted the significant cultural and economic ties between San Jose and Taiwan and the contributions of the Taiwanese community to the development of Silicon Valley, home to key tech companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and TSMC.

Lin Darey, president of the Chinese American Traditional Foundation, expressed his gratitude to Mayor Mahan’s team and Peter Ortiz for their support. He noted that the establishment of the Chinese Cultural Park over the last 50 years has provided a valuable venue for showcasing Chinese culture. The upcoming restoration efforts aim to revitalize this historically significant place, ensuring future generations can appreciate and carry forward the legacy of Chinese cultural heritage.

The flag-raising event featured a lion dance performance by the Liang Guan Bai He Lion Dance Team, a ceremonial entry by the Air Force Big Peng Association, and a chorus of the national anthem led by the National Taiwan University Alumni Association. Dignitaries in attendance included Deputy Director Zhu Yongchang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Fremont City Councilmember Shao Yang, Chairman of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in San Francisco Zhong Weijun, and various community leaders and political representatives from both local and Taiwanese organizations.