The Knights of Corte Reais Its History and Activities  Post Office Box 1039 Bristol, Rhode Island, 02809 Directors Elected: George Cooper, President;   Joseph Moniz, Vice-President;  Dr Manuel Luciano da Silva, Secretary    Jonne Mello Esq. Treasurer

Our First meeting: Sunday, January 25, 2004,
 Dom Luís Filipe Beneficial Association, 
9 St. Elisabeth Street, Bristol, RI at 12:30 Noon

• Program: 

• (1) Installation of Officers. 

• (2) Presentation of plaques to the former Directors; 

• (3) Meal; 

• (4) Remarks by President Cooper outlining the annual program; 

• (5) Slide presentation of a trip to Portugal and  the Azores, by  Dr. Luciano da Silva.

• Meal: 

• (1) Portuguese soup;  

• (2) bread; 

• (3) Salad; 

• (4) Caçoila,  

• (5) Dessert;  (

• 6) coffee and sprite

Donation $14:00  (taxes and gratuities included)

You have to call BEFORE  Thursday by 12 noon to reserve your meal. 
Telephones :  George Cooper 253-5466 or Dr. Da Silva 253-5326

Editorial by the President Elected George Cooper

Our past Officers, President Joseph Mello, and his suite, Olga Botelho, Vice President, Maria Mello, Secretary and Mary Ferreira, Treasurer have served our membership well. We cannot praise them too highly for a job well done . Under their direction many great things have happened to further educate and help the Portugueses people in the area of entertainment and education. We can all be thankful for the many hours of devoted service they gave to The Knights of Corte Reais. 

We are now moving on and hope to bring  the Organization back to a higher level. We hope, to have a monthly newsletter and monthly meetings, where we all can have a good time. Let us make it a fun Organization as well as educational. We can use your input. Help us to move the Organization in the direction YOU would like  to see it go. Come to the January 25^th meeting, and make some suggestions. Your input will be greatly appreciated.        

                                 (a) George Cooper.

What is the meaning of the name “The Knights of the Corte Reais”? 
By Manuel Luciano da Silva, Secretary

The name of the Knights of Corte  Reais was chosen to honor the  courageous and famous Portuguese Navigators, who made the first discoveries to North America.  The father João Vaz  Corte Real  discovered Newfoundland, or Terra Nova, in 1472, twenty years before Columbus came to Central America, in 1492. Gaspar Corte Real, his son,  came to America in 1500,  and again in 1501, and Miguel  Corte Real, his brother,  came in 1502, looking for him but neither ever returned to Portugal. Miguel left his name engraved on the face of Dighton Rock together with the Portuguese national symbols and the Cross of the Order of Christ, symbol  of the Portuguese discoveries. Have you ever visited with your family the Dighton Rock Museum?  

This year we are celebrating 40 years of our foundation!

This year, 2004, we are celebrating forty years of the incorporation of the Knight of Corte Reais.  Practically  all our  founders are deceased but  we remember them with much nostalgia.  Our first President was Louis Ferreira, the second President was Manuel Botelho.  They worked very hard to make our organization develop an outstanding position the Town of Bristol.  During this year will be  remembering  other presidents and other Directors because they  were hard workers for our Organization. They wanted the Knights to be continued by the next young generations of the Portuguese Americans. They always believed that the historical meaning of the Corte Reais and of Dighton Rock should make the young Portuguese Americans proud of their roots and their heritage.  Let us hope that this year our membership will renew the same aspiration. 

In the past forty Years the Dighton Rock Museum has been completed and has all the necessary maritime artifacts. We have now three Replicas  of the face of the Dighton Rock in Portugal: One in Lisbon, Belém, near Jerónimos,  another  in Oliveira  de Azeméis and a third one in Cavião, Vale de Cambra,  in the patio of the Library with the name of Manuel Luciano da Silva.  All these 3  Replicas of fiberglass  were possible due to the efforts of Edward Medeiros of Bristol  and his coworkers. 

Gaspar and Miguel Corte Real were both born  in Angra do Heroismo, in the Island of  Terceira, therefore they are both Azoreans.   Here is a poem in Portuguese written by Daniel Amaral,  just published   in his new  book entitled  “Pérolas Poéticas Açorianas”. The book has 216 pages, 43 photos and costs only  $10:00. Those of you who  are interested in obtaining a copy,  call the author at 401-434-7383.

Bring a friend! We are going to have an affair every month like in the old days!  Joins us for cultural and historical events! 

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