Photo of Dighton Rock taken at night with light sideways.
Compare the 45 degree angle extremities on both
Crosses of the Order of Christ: on Madeira flag and on Dighton Rock.
Why are we sending a Replica of
Dighton Rock to the Archipelago of
Madeira?
-Because of two very important
historical facts!
By Manuel
Luciano da Silva, Medical Doctor
The first Portuguese historical fact is demonstrated by the flag of Madeira Archipelago that has on its center a Cross of the Order of Christ, symbol of the Portuguese Discoveries, with extremities terminating in 45 degree angles.
Dighton Rock in Berkley, Massachusetts, U. S. A. has, on its large face of 55 square feet, engraved four Crosses of the Order of Christ also with extremities terminating at 45 degree angles.
Photo of Dighton Rock taken at night with
light sideways.
Compare the 45 degree angle extremities on both
Crosses of the
Order of Christ: on Madeira flag and on Dighton Rock.
The first drawing done by Reverend John
Danforth in 1680 – without knowing the existence of the Cross of the Order of
Christ – he drew the branches of two Crosses of the Order of Christ with
extremities at 45 degree angles.
In 1788 – 12 years after the Independence of
the USA – James Winthrop made a rubbing of the inscriptions – and even without
knowing the existence of the Cross of the Order of Christ – he drew a Cross of
the Order of Christ with one extremity at exactly 45 degree angles.
Total Portuguese inscriptions engraved on
Dighton Rock by the
navigator Miguel Corte Real in 1511 together with the
Portuguese National Symbols.
The Second Historical fact is the American one.
On July 4th, 1776, the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence of USA, in Philadelphia, to celebrate that extraordinary historical event – did not drink champagne or beer – but chose instead Madeira Wine!
The signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, on July 4th, 1776. All these American Patriots drank Madeira Wine to celebrate that very important historical American Chapter.
The actual President of the Government of Madeira
The President of the Archipelago of Madeira and Porto Santo after re-reading the second Portuguese edition of our book ”Cristóvão Colon was Portuguese” wrote us this letter.
Here is its translation:
Dear Doctor:
I want to thank you for sending me the second edition of your book which I had already read the first edition eagerly.
I want to express to you my best wishes for continuing with your work of research in favor of Science and Portugal
I am recommending the contents of your letter to the Secretary of Tourism and Culture for future contacts.
With my best regards, consideration and thanks,
The President,
Alberto João Cardoso Gonçalves Jardim
The matter of my letter to the President of Madeira was referred to the Secretary of Tourism and Culture, Mr. Carlos Abreu, who decided to send to New England teacher Rui Horonato to speak with us concerning some ideas for Madeira to be better known in USA. I was very frank with him.
(1) First we need in New England many bilingual books – in English and Portuguese – to offer to the public, high school and university libraries so the American citizens and our descendents: sons, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren can learn in their native tongue – the English language – about the beautiful History and Culture of the People of Madeira.
(2) Unfortunately Madeira does not have an airline like the Azores to make direct flights to New England.
(3) To send a Replica of Dighton Rock to Madeira because the Cross of the Order of Christ that exist on the flag of Madeira is equal to the four Crosses of the Order of Christ engraved on the American Monument called Dighton Rock, in Berkley, Massachusetts, USA.
(4) If we could obtain a new Replica of Dighton Rock as a gift from the American people to the people of Madeira, it would be an excellent gesture of friendship between both countries – Portugal and USA -- because the signers of the Declaration of American Independence drank Madeira Wine on July 4th, 1776 to celebrate that extraordinary event!
I also told prof. Rui Horonato that: “It was not going to be easy to coordinate all the good will among supervisors, technicians and the owners of the big factory TPI in Warren, Rhode Island to make, free of charge, a new Replica for Madeira”.
My very good friend Mr. Edward Medeiros, Supervisor at TPI, was the one who directed the production of the three Replicas of Dighton Rock which already exist in Portugal: (1) the first one in Belém, Lisbon, near the Maritime Museum; (2) in the Museum of Oliveira de Azeméis; and the (3) in the patio of the Library-Museum, Vale de Cambra.
So after a delicious supper of codfish prepared by his wife at their home in Bristol, RI, I made of him my request for another Replica to go to Madeira. Here are his words: “ We are going to speak with Mr. Duarte da Silva, Supervisor of Special Projects and to a group of technicians and I believe we will be able to make another Replica to send to that gorgeous island Madeira!”
All the materials used on the manufacturing of this replica were given by the big company TPI (Tillistson Pearson Incorporated) of Warren, Rhode Island, USA. This factory employs 362 people and almost 90 % are Portuguese-Americans.
To make the replica the technicians had to use a special mold made several years ago by the specialist Steven Tegu ( from New York University). He used latex rubber, applying 21 thin layers to the face of the rock, therefore making a mold with high scientific precision.
Beside the supervisors, Duarte da Silva and Edward Medeiros, the other TPI technicians were: João Ferreira, José Pereira, Duarte Medeiros and José Cordeiro. All these men gave their labor and their knowledge with their utmost Portuguese-American enthusiasm and patriotism because the inscriptions on Dighton Rock were engraved in 1511 by a Portuguese navigator Miguel Corte Real, born in Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores.
The explanation why a Replica of Dighton Rock is going to be sent to Madeira was given by Dr. Manuel Luciano da Silva, physician-historian from Bristol, Rhode Island in an interview published by the “Bristol Phoenix” newspaper. He is the reference:
“The history of Madeira is closely related to the very beginning of the History of the United States of America. On July 4th, 1776, the fifty seven signers of the Declaration of the American Independence, in Philadelphia, to celebrate that extraordinary historical event – instead of drinking champagne or beer, they chose instead Madeira Wine!
Because Dighton Rock -- being an American Monument – which has engraved on it four Crosses of the Order of Christ, which are similar to the Cross of the Order of Christ on the flag of Madeira, we believe that it will be fitting if a replica of Dighton Rock could be sent to that archipelago in a gesture of friendship between Portugal and USA.
All the men of TPI who made the replica to be sent to Madeira were born in the Azores. But they put aside any regional favoritism and concentrated themselves in the common denominator that all of us have the same Portuguese- American roots. I am most grateful to all of them. Job well done!”
Here is a photo of all
Portuguese-Americans
who worked on the making of the Replica to go to Madeira:
Duarte da Silva, Supervisor of the Special Projects, Edward Medeiros, Regional Supervisor (both holding the Madeira flag) and the technicians: João Ferreira, José Pereira, Duarte Medeiros and José Cordeiro.
The special box that will hold the Replica to Madeira has the following dimensions:
- Length = 150 inches / or 3,81 meters
- Width = 56 inches / or 2,42 meters
- Thickness = 11 inches / or 27, 94 centimeters
- Weight of total box = 488 pounds / or 221,8 Kilograms
- Replica weight = 84 ponds / or 38,18 kilograms.
Duarte da Silva, Frederico Pacheco,
President of the Academy of Codfish
of New England, Inc, and Edward Medeiros,
standing on the top of
the box for the Replica. The Replica is on the background on a
special tripod.