It was 11 am;
There was a very good crowd already in the gathering place. Everybody was a little bit nervous because there were delegations already confirmed to attend but....will the rest of invitees come? or will they come on time to this first meeting?
The time has come and to start the conference is mandatory.
First, The United States Of America National Anthem that with its flag was precisely escorted by the Military Veterans of El Salvador residing in the US, followed by the next group of veterans escorting the Salvadoran Flag as El Salvador National Anthem was played and sung out loud with the attendants moved when listening the music of the beloved anthem, some with watered eyes keeping the posture while singing until it was played completely.
The Place: Omega Restaurant and Discotheque in the heart of Langley Park, State of Maryland, USA; Date: March 9, 2013; Reason for this meeting: The First Salvadoran Diaspora Conference.
This was the best time to measure the level of interest of this thriving community of Salvadorans that immigrated to the United States of America that for many reasons are now in US territory.
There were delegations from Miami, Los Angeles, New Jersey, New York, Washington, Maryland, Virginia, El Salvador and many more.
In total there were around 40 organizations with their representatives and also bystanders who wanted to be part of such a historic event. The results: A tremendous Success!!
The Salvadoran Media was also present to witness how this new and now considered the 3rd more numerous minority in the United States is about to change the game for future elections of El Salvador.
On January 26th, 2013 El Salvador Congress approved that all Salvadorans residing in the United States and Canada would be able to vote in the 2014 Presidents election remotely. This, eventually, will be extended to many other countries where there is a dense population of Salvadorans residing as well.
The Salvadoran Diaspora conference was developed in a very organized way with speakers from FUSA, that stands for Fraternidad Unidad Salvadorena Americana or Salvadoran American United Fraternity in English. FUSA hosted the event.
In a personal interview with prominent leaders of the Salvadoran Community they remarked the importance of this historic conference that sends a clear and direct message to the Republic of El Salvador. Now, all Salvadorans are preparing to vote and to change their country destiny with free and democratic elections where they, as nationals of El Salvador will take part of the voting process in a modality called Postal Vote
There were many people at the conference and it ended up at 3 pm eastern time. A total blast from what many skeptical people and it ended up being considered the most important event of Washington DC metropolitan area in years.
The main purpose was fulfilled said Jose J., one of the organizers, referring to all reactions for what the speakers explained in a conscious and detailed way.
Many people were giving their opinion while all the speakers were explaining the Diaspora New Agenda. More joined small debates and gave insights and expressed their ideas to put together in the mentioned initiative.
At some point many expressed happiness while others were nostalgic and asked to have more conferences in many states of the American territory.
There will be more Diaspora meetings according to I. C. -another of the speakers in the mentioned event- this is just the beginning, El Salvador's Diaspora is alive and kicking, we just have the right to express ourselves through the most important weapon of Democracy: the vote, he said. We as the Salvadoran Diaspora have the commitment of help our El Salvador nationals to achieve all what's necessary to get their DUI -that's stands for Documento Unico de Identidad or Unique Document of Identity in English- we need our nationals to be prepared to vote and we are looking for a good and reliable information for them to acquire such important required document.
The DUI is what's necessary for every Salvadoran residing in the United States to be able to vote in the next elections.
Standing in front of the crowd and one after the other, all the speakers answered questions regarding their portion in the conference, and finally they all posed for pictures and so the first Diaspora convocation was concluded.
Happy faces, warm handshakes and hugs, you could see members of the back then left wing talking effusively with people of the back then right wing. There is no place for more prevailing ideas other than to help El Salvador. We are here to be part and to change history when we have the chance to vote and help change from here or any other part of the world to our El Salvador they said. The only colors we are defending now are blue and white, the colors of our flag, and there is no distinction of political creeds in this task they said. We are going to collaborate to make happen what our flag says: Dios, Union, Libertad.
