FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            RELEASE NO. 76-09

CADETS ATTEND BRAZILIAN DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE EVENT – Sept. 11, 2009

WEST POINT, N.Y. —Six cadets represented West Point at the 187th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Brazil held at the Tennis and Racquet Club of New York on Sept. 8.

The event allowed cadets the opportunity to make contacts with organizations including the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, the United Nations and the Brazilian Embassy. 

The Consul General of Brazil Ambassador Osmar Chohi made the opening remarks.  He discussed the political and economic stability of Brazil and cited social inclusion, natural resources and job expansion as key factors attributing to the growing success of the country. 

Brazil, which occupies almost half of South America, is the country that possesses the world's largest Portuguese speaking population.  Portuguese is one of the most widely studied languages taught at West Point, which has maintained a Brazilian exchange officer at the Academy since 1946.  West Point provides cadets the opportunity to study abroad with the spring, summer and semester abroad programs.  The Academy also offers a Portuguese Club that provides cadets who are interested in learning about Brazilian culture the chance to participate in hands-on activities. 

About West Point
Ranked the “Top College in the Country” by Forbes and “Top Public Liberal Arts College" by US News & World Report, the U.S. Military Academy is a four-year co-educational federal undergraduate liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City.  The world's preeminent leader development institution, it was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering.  Its mission remains constant—to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army.  For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.

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