By William Tauro
Photo: Ward 2 Somerville Alderman Maryann Heuston, City of Somerville’s (BAJS) associate member Rick Willette and Movie Actor Aurther Wahlberg
The Benevolent Asian Jade Society (BAJS) of New England held its Annual
Banquet in Boston’s Chinatown District this past Friday night to celebrate the Chineese New Year.
With over three hundred attendees at the event, a majority of them law enforcement officers from various agencies, along with their families, from across the nation including New York PD, elected officials and Jade Society members and friends.
A special guest appearance by Movie Actor and Actress, Arthur Wahlberg and
Jennifer Gjulameti were there amongst the crowd of invited attendees.
Representing the City of Somerville at the event was Ward 2 Somerville Alderman Maryann Heuston, City of Somerville’s (BAJS) associate member Rick Willette and Somerville News Weekly Publisher Bill Tauro were present.
There was everything there to enjoy from a ten course dinner to the traditional Chinese New Year Dragon Dance, as well as Martial arts demonstrations performed live by various local Boston Chinatown youth organizations.
The Society was started in 1983 by eight sworn officers of the Boston Police Department known as the Asian Jade Society of Boston. Since then, the name of the Society has been changed to the Benevolent Asian Jade Society of New England (BAJS of New England).
The Society is a Not For Profit organization and a member of the National Asian Peace Officers Association (NAPOA).
The Society’s membership consists of law enforcement officers as defined in their state, county, city or town within the region of the states of New England. The Society also has associate memberships that consist of any person who has worked in or is interested in promoting law enforcement or related fields. The goal of the Society is to establish a network and bring together the Asian American Brothers and Sisters of the various law enforcement entities within New England.