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A dedication ceremony will be held on Saturday at Hermann Park in
downtown Houston to mark the erection in the park of the statue, jointly
donated by the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in
Houston and the local Chinese community.
"2009 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-U.S.
diplomatic relationships, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the P.
R. China, and the 2,560th anniversary of Great Confucius," U.S. Judge Ed
Emmett said a proclamation on the statue dated Aug.27.
The news release quoted the county judge as saying that "Confucius, an
ancient Chinese educator and thinker, dedicated his whole life to
creating an ideal society of peace, prosperity, orderliness, and mutual
love -- while emphasizing personal and governmental morality,
correctness of social relationships, justice, and sincerity."
This life-size bronze statue will serve as a token of goodwill and
friendship between the Chinese and American peoples, the county judge
explained his diction.
Confucius (551-479 BC) was the most famous and prominent ancient Chinese
educator, thinker and philosopher whose teachings are so well known and
respected around the world.
The Great Confucius Statue at Herman Park is the work of renown sculptor
Willy Wang, an American Emmy Rewards winner who immigrated from China
and has created works such as the sculpture of George R. Brown in
Discovery Green and Bill Hobby in the State Capitol.
"Therefore, I, Ed Emmett, County Judge of Harris County, Texas, hereby
proclaim Saturday, September 26, 2009, as Great Confucius Sculpture Day
in Harris County, and extend best wishes for an enjoyable and inspiring
dedication," the county judge said in the sealed proclamation to all the
citizens.
Harris County is located in the U.S. state of Texas, covering 27 cities
including the most area of the city of Houston. The county had an
estimated population of 4 million in 2008, almost doubling that of 2.2
million in the city of Houston, making it the most populous county in
Texas and the third most populous county in the United States.
Mayor of city of Houston, Bill White, and Governor of Texas, Rick Perry,
have both sent congratulating letters to the organizers of the
dedication ceremony, saying that Great Confucius Statue is the most
generous gift to the city and the state as well as to the Sino-U.S.
relations.
"On behalf of the city of Houston, I thank you for the very generous
gift of a bronze sculpture of Great Confucius to the citizens of Houston
to be dedicated and placed in the Hermann Park International Sculpture
Garder," White wrote. "This year marks the30th anniversary of the
renewal of Sino-American relations. I can think of no more fitting time
to dedicate this statue and to celebrate and honor the ongoing and
steadfast relationships our city has with China and its many citizens
who reside in Houston."
Governor Perry echoed the theme, pointing out to the fact that the
United States and China has worked to foster "strong economic and trade
ties, international cooperation and unity in our strength and dedication
to mutual prosperity."
"As you commemorate his (Confucius) life and teachings, you also
celebrate the relationship the United States and China has worked to
develop over the years. In the decades to come, this relationship will
continue to be the world's most significant, as our nations continue to
work in collaboration toward common goals of prosperity, strength and
peace," he predicted.
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