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The Pehuajo Basque club will participate in two ceremonies.  In the morning, they will represent the community at an event that will take place at the Peace Arc as part of the commemoration of the International Day of Peace.  In the afternoon, the event will take place at the Euskal Etxea where members and friends will plant a sapling and share a toast to celebrate the club’s birthday that will also pay tribute to Basque women. 

Pehuajo, Argentina.   The Etxe Alai Basque Club in Pehuajo, in the Province of Buenos Aires, will celebrate its 60th anniversary, even if the commemoration took place on July 27, the Basque club will celebrate it today in a program of activities that will be divided in two.  In the morning, they will represent the Basque community at the event for the International Day of Peace.  Invited by the Literary Group “And the Trees will Return,” Etxe Alai will participate in the ceremony where the Argentine flag will be raised at the Peace Arc, located on the corner of Alsina and Lavaden streets. It will begin at 10am.

In the afternoon, beginning at 6pm at the clubhouse, members and friends of Etxe Alai will gather to pay tribute “to everyone who made this wonderful 60th anniversary celebration possible,’ Elida Oroz, club treasurer, told EuskalKultura.com.  The event will begin with the raising of the Argentine and Basque flags, along with the Flag of Peace and will continue with planting an oak, “symbol of the Basques,” on the clubhouse patio.

Tribute to Basque Women

Also as part of the anniversary festivities, the Euskal Etxea will inaugurate a mural in tribute to Basque women.  According to Oroz, “In this important year, we want to do something special, specifically pay tribute to all the Basque women who worked hard for the club.  That is why we approached the students and teachers at the local Art School, to create a work of art that would reflect Basque women.  The mural isn’t quiet done, we are hoping by the end of October or beginning of November, and when it is ready we will hold an inauguration ceremony.  Nevertheless, today we are presenting the sketch.”

After the oak is planted, and the sketch presented, everyone present is invited for a toast.  In addition to the inauguration of the mural Etxe Alai will also organize an Anniversary Diner to celebrate with its members and friends.  “In November, we will also be at Semana Nacional Vasca as every year,” Oroz announced.

Euskera classes

Among the good news coming from Pehuajo, they also mentioned that Basque classes will resume this September. The classes are taught by Alejandra Bengochea from Trenque Lauquen. She travels to Pehuajo every two weeks.  “Alejandra comes twice a month and on the Thursdays that she is not here, we get together, 10 of us, to do etxeko lana (homework),” the club’s spokesperson said.