Bill Gates Leads Seattle's First-Ever Independence Day Celebration

August 17 :
As the special guest of honor, Bill Gates, chairman of the Gates Foundation, was welcomed by the Consulate General of India in Seattle to the inaugural India Day festivities in the Greater Seattle area. There were more than 2,000 people in the Indian American community who came out to celebrate India's 78th Independence Day.

In his speech, Gates praised India for its innovative spirit, highlighting its achievements in the fields of technology, agriculture, and healthcare. “From manufacturing safe, low-cost medicines to the tremendous leadership demonstrated by the Indian diaspora to India’s Digital Public Infrastructure – India’s inventiveness is aiding not just Indians, but the whole globe." he said, highlighting India’s global accomplishments.

Notable guests to the party included members of Congress Adam Smith, Kim Schrier, and Suzan DelBene, as well as high-ranking military officials such as Lt. General Xavier Brunson and Rear Admiral Mark Sucato. Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, Chief Justice Steve Gonzalez, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, and the mayors of Bellevue, Tacoma, Kent, Auburn, Renton, SeaTac, Snoqualmie, and Mercer Island were among the Washington state leaders in attendance.

The theme of the event, "Unity in Diversity," was reflected in the cultural acts and floats that showcased the various regions and states of India. Indian American community leaders planned and executed these floats to celebrate India's cultural heritage. The five cities and counties in Washington state—King County, Bellevue, Portland, Hillsboro, and Tigard—issued formal proclamations in honor of the occasion. Seattle and Bellevue's landmark skyscrapers were lit up in the colors of the Indian flag, and a celebratory greeting was delivered by Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.