Ambassador Shannon, Theresa White, Consul General Thomas White, Alda Marco Antônio, Acting Mayor of the City of Sao Paulo and Luiz Gabriel Rico, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce welcomed the guests

São Paulo, July 8, 2010 – More than 600 hundred Brazilian, American and international guests descended on the American Chamber of Commerce Thursday noon to celebrate the 234th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with Ambassador Thomas Shannon, Consul General Thomas White and his wife, Terry, and the officers and staff of the US Consulate General in Sao Paulo.  The Ambassador and the Consul General were joined by Luiz Gabriel Rico, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce, and Alda Marco Antônio, Acting Mayor of the City of Sao Paulo, in welcoming the guests and celebrating the spirit of independence, freedom and amity that has long marked relations between the people and governments of the United States and Brazil.  Over 70 U.S. companies sponsored the celebration, which also featured a message from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the U.S. Marine Color Guard, and anthems and music accompanied by a brass quintet from the Souza Lima Foundation.  The event marked the end of Consul White’s tour in Sao Paulo before departing for a new assignment in Europe July 12.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers a message to the guests	Quintet from the Souza Lima Foundation	The U.S. Marine Color Guard (Photos: U.S. Consulate-SP/Najla Kubrusly)