ASTERO
NABO Fall Meeting
This last Saturday, delegates representing NABO Member Clubs gathered in Boise, Idaho at the Leku Ona for NABO’s Fall Meeting. Hosted by Boise Euzkaldunak the meeting was attended by delegates from 39 of NABO’s 41 member clubs in person and on Zoom. Benan Oregi, from the Basque Government’s Directorate for the Basque Community Abroad was also in attendance who updated everyone on the upcoming 8th World Congress of Basque Collectivities, and Gaztemundu, both taking place this December. Other highlights of the meeting included the reelection of Edurne Arostegui, and Kate Camino and Lisa Corcostegui as NABO Euskara Coordinator and NABO Facilitator/Webmaster respectively. Zorionak neskak! With NABO celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, individuals who have played a tremendous roll in the organization were invited to join the group for lunch. These included Miren Artiach, a founding member and past NABO secretary, Dave Eiguren, NABO past president, and Steve Mendive also a NABO past president. President Jean Flesher also took advantage of the occasion to present Lisa Corcostegui with NABO’s Al Erquiaga Bizi Emankorra award for her years of hard work and dedication. After the meeting, everyone was invited for a tour of the Basque Museum and Boardinghouse, and many continued on to the Basque Center’s annual Mortzilla dinner and Bingo and Bazaar. On behalf of everyone at NABO Eskerrik Asko to all of the organizations in Boise that made it such a wonderful weekend! Asko estimatzen zaituztegu!
Basque WWII Veterans News
As we are about to celebrate this year’s Veterans Day, we are very happy to share some news we received from Dr. Pedro Oiarzabal about honoring our Basque WWII veterans. At the beginning of December, Basque World War II veterans will be honored at a ceremony on the Japanese island of Okinawa. In collaboration with the Okinawa Prefectural Peace and Reconciliation Memorial Museum, the Basque homeland history association, Sancho the Beurko, under the auspices of the North American Basque Organizations, will pay special tribute to those Americans of Basque origin who passed away in Okinawa during WWII. The Battle of Okinawa (March 26, 1945-June 22, 1945) was the last major battle of WWII, in which more than 12,500 American soldiers perished, including five Basques, and more than 36,000 were wounded, many of whom died after the battle. On the Japanese side, more than 77,000 soldiers and more than 100,000 Okinawan civilians passed away. A sixth Basque died in Okinawa at the end of the war, but from non-battle related circumstances. This will be the first tribute to honor our Basque WWII veterans on Japanese soil. Dr. Pedro. J. Oiarzabal, leading researcher at the Sancho the Beurko Association’s “Fighting Basques: Memory of WWII,” will travel to Okinawa to take part in the tribute to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Dr. Oiarzabal will also make a presentation on the research project. On behalf of everyone at NABO, we would like to thank Pedro for his ongoing efforts to honor our Basque veterans. It is thanks to his work, that these veterans will now be honored in Okinawa. Mila esker handi bat Pedro!
Txoko Ona Fall Dinner
Please join the Txoko Ona Basque Club in Homedale, Idaho this Saturday, November 11th for its Fall Dinner. The festivities will begin at 5pm with a social hour followed by dinner at 6pm prepared by Chef Jesus Alcelay. Price of the dinner is $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. The menu includes Red Bean Soup, Onati Salad, Chicken in Mushroom Sauce, Cod in Butter Sauce, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, for dessert Rice Pudding, coffee and a glass of wine is included. Online ticket sales are closed, but tickets may still be available at the door. For complete information, including who to call for a reservation, visit them on Facebook. On egin!
11/9/2023
