U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo fests Independence

Santo Domingo.- United States ambassador James W. Brewster and his husband Bob Satawake hosted a reception at his residence Thursday night to mark his country’s 238th Independence Day.

The celebration began with the hoisting of the flags by the U.S> Marines at the Embassy followed by the national anthems of both countries.

Soprano Antonia Chabebe sang the Dominican national anthem a cappella, followed by the United States’ with Crystal Shaver, a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic.

In his keynote speech, Brewster cited the U.S. Declaration of independence: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."