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【作者：卫高荣（CAECA Founding Chairman)】
今天是2025年4月10日，距离美中经济文化协会（CAECA）向北卡凯瑞市捐赠纪念长椅整整两周年。站在Koka Booth Symphony湖边，看着绿道旁的那张“Legacy Bench”，我心里有很多感触。这张长椅不仅是一份礼物，更是我们华人社区对这片新故乡深深感恩的见证，是我们融入美国、回馈社会的缩影。
两年前的6月7日，我们美中经济文化协会在湖边举办了纪念长椅的剪彩仪式。长椅所在地址为 8003 Regency parkway, Cary , NC 27518，这里位置很好，紧挨着Koka Booth Amphitheater 停车场，面向湖水，后面是一大片树林，景色美不胜收。长椅上的金属牌刻着我们的心声：“感谢这个新国家，美中经济文化协会（CAECA）捐赠”，下面还列着我们董事会部分成员的名字：卫高荣、牛志文、邢新力、江孙东、柯秀亭、刘秀瑜、李勐、Lisa Huang、肖美勇、周天民、官诗晖、刘洋、张伟用、Kevin Lee、Roger Yiu 、陈琰、李增详、俞健、陈海勇、李锦秀、南汝斌。
那天尽管下着小雨，北卡的华人朋友们依然热情高涨，冒雨前来参加仪式。凯瑞市市议员Lori Bush女士、北卡亚裔众议员Maria Cervania女士、凯瑞市市议长Carissa Johnson，以及我们协会的牛志文、柯秀亭、黄莉清、朱明光、刘洋、欧红等董事会成员都到场了。还有许多华人社区的名流，比如曾担任联邦财政部首席技术官的周武修夫妇、NCSU设计系主任刘彩露，以及温大岭、陈阳、刘启国、宋千子、陈道阳、朱晓航、孟庆俊、李榛、林芬等人，大家齐聚一堂，共同见证这一时刻。
晚上，我们在上海老街餐厅举办了庆祝晚宴，北卡州华裔州议员刘广亚女士也赶来致辞，她说：“今天是大喜的日子！小小的纪念长椅是华人融入和建设美国社区的历史见证。”听到这句话，我心里暖暖的，觉得所有的努力都值得了。
我还记得，凯瑞市市议员at large Lori Bush女士在剪彩时说：“凯瑞市有83英里绿道，围绕这个湖有1.5英里，我希望走累的人们可以在CAECA,美中经济文化协会捐赠的这条漂亮的椅子上坐坐，休息一会。”这张长椅虽然小，却代表着我们对社区的热爱和感恩，也为路人提供了一个歇脚的地方。北卡州菲裔议员Maria Cervania女士也说：“这是最特别的一件事，你们为凯瑞，为威克郡，为北卡州做出了如此大的改变。”她还鼓励我们：“你们有什么需要，请尽管告诉我。”这些话语让我感受到，华人社区的努力和善举得到了认可。
回想起来，我从1978年赴美宾州州立大学留学，1982年定居凯瑞，至今已经43年了。这片土地给了我无数机会，也让我见证了华人社区的成长。从最初在北卡组织华人活动，到后来创立中国中心及caeca美中经济文化协会，我一直致力于推动中美之间的经贸、文化交流，维护华人同胞的利益。
43年来，我在北卡结识了无数朋友，无论是共和党还是民主党的州长、议员、市长，我都以诚相待，相互尊重。就像我常说的：“我珍惜生命中遇到的每一个人，不管是高层人士还是一般百姓。”我甚至保留了79年人生中的每一张照片，视频，因为这些都是我与这片土地、与这些朋友的珍贵回忆。
这张长椅不仅是我们对美国的感恩，也是对未来的期许。我曾说：“百年之后我们都不在这个世界上，但Legacy Bench却仍然存在！”这张长椅是一个象征，它见证了我们这一代华人的奋斗与贡献，也将留给后人一个乘凉的地方。
作为台湾出生长大祖籍湖南炎陵人，我始终为自己是中华始祖炎帝的后裔而骄傲。我们的根在中华大地，但我们的枝叶已在这片新故乡——美国生根发芽。两年前的今天，我们用这张长椅表达了对美国的深深谢意；两年后的今天，我站在这里，依然心潮澎湃。我希望在未来的日子里，会有更多人坐在这张长椅上，感受到我们华人社区的温暖与力量。
最后，我想借此机会感谢所有参与捐赠和剪彩的朋友们，感谢凯瑞市市长Herald Weinbrecht. 和文化艺术经理Susan Bradley为我们提供了这个绝佳位置。愿这张“Legacy Bench”继续见证凯瑞市的美好，愿我们华人社区在北卡这片土地上，继续书写属于我们的精彩篇章！
Author: John Wei (Founding Chairman, CAECA)
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary, NC 27518
April 10, 2025
Today marks exactly two years since the Chinese-American Economic and Cultural Association (CAECA) donated the Legacy Bench to the Town of Cary, North Carolina. Standing beside Symphony Lake at Koka Booth Amphitheater, gazing at that bench nestled along the greenway, I am filled with deep emotions.
This bench is more than just a gift—it is a symbol of gratitude from our Chinese-American community to our new homeland. It represents our journey of integration and our commitment to give back to the society that has embraced us.
On June 7, 2023, we held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the lake to unveil the Legacy Bench. The location is beautiful—right next to the Koka Booth Amphitheater parking lot, facing the serene lake, with a lush forest behind it. A plaque on the bench bears our heartfelt message: "With gratitude to this new country — Donated by the Chinese-American Economic and Cultural Association (CAECA)." Below are the names of our board members at the time:
John Wei, Steve Niu, Winner Xinli Xin, Sundong Jiang, Florence Ko, Tina Liu, Charles Lu,
Meng Li, Lisa Huang, Billy Xiao, Tianmin Zhou, Shihui Guan, Yang Liu, Adam Zhang,
Hai Yong Chen, Yan Chen, Kevin Lee, Roger Yiu, Zengxiang li, Jin x Li, Rubin Nan.
Although it rained that day, the enthusiasm of our community never wavered. Many friends from the local Chinese community came despite the weather. We were honored to have Cary Town Council Member Lori Bush, North Carolina State Representative Maria Cervania, Cary Town Council President Carissa Johnson, and CAECA board members including Zhiwen Niu, Xiuting Ke, Liqing Huang, Mingguang Zhu, Yang Liu, and Hong Ou join us. Other distinguished members of the community also attended, such as former U.S. Treasury CTO Wu Xiu Zhou and his wife, NCSU Design School Director Cailu Liu, along with Daling Wen, Yang Chen, Qiguo Liu, Qianzi Song, Daoyang Chen, Xiaohang Zhu, Qingjun Meng, Zhen Li, Fen Lin, and many more. Together, we witnessed a meaningful moment in our community's history.
That evening, we held a celebratory banquet at the Old Shanghai Restaurant. NC State Representative Guangya Liu joined us and remarked, “Today is a day of joy! This small Legacy Bench stands as a lasting testimony to the contributions of the Chinese-American community.” Her words deeply moved me. All the hard work was truly worth it.
During the ribbon-cutting, Council Member Lori Bush noted, “Cary has 83 miles of greenway, and 1.5 miles surround this lake. I hope people who are tired from walking can sit down on this beautiful bench donated by CAECA, rest for a while, and enjoy the view.” Though modest, this bench carries our love and gratitude for the community, offering passersby a peaceful place to pause.
Filipino-American Representative Maria Cervania also shared her thoughts: “This is something very special. You've made such a big difference to Cary, to Wake County, and to North Carolina.” She encouraged us warmly: “If there's ever anything you need, please let me know.” Her words reminded me that the efforts and goodwill of the Chinese community are truly recognized and appreciated.
Looking back, I came to the U.S. in 1978 to study at Penn State University and settled in Cary in 1982. It's been 43 years now. This land has given me countless opportunities, and I've witnessed the steady growth of our Chinese-American community. From organizing early Chinese events in North Carolina to establishing the Chinese Center and founding CAECA, I've always strived to promote U.S.-China cultural and economic exchanges and to advocate for our community’s well-being.
Over the decades, I've built friendships across party lines—with governors, mayors, legislators, and everyday citizens—always treating others with sincerity and mutual respect. As I often say, "I cherish every person I meet in this life, no matter their position." I have even kept every photo and video taken over my 79 years of life—each one a memory, a connection to the people and the land that has shaped my journey.
This Legacy Bench is not only a token of our gratitude to America, but a wish for the future. As I once said, “A hundred years from now, we may no longer be in this world, but the Legacy Bench will remain.” It is a symbol of the resilience, dedication, and contributions of our generation of Chinese immigrants, and it will continue to offer comfort and rest to those who come after us.
As someone with ancestral roots in Yanling, Hunan—the birthplace of the Flame Emperor, one of China's legendary ancestors—I was born and grew up in Taiwan, and then had been living in Cary for nearly half a century, I've always felt proud of my heritage. Our roots are in China, but our branches and leaves have flourished in this new homeland. Two years ago, we expressed our gratitude through this bench. Today, standing here once more, my heart is still filled with emotion. I hope that in the years to come, more people will sit on this bench and feel the warmth and strength of the Chinese-American community.
Finally, I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part in the donation and ceremony. Special thanks to Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Cultural Arts Manager Susan Bradley for granting us this exceptional location. May this Legacy Bench continue to witness the beauty of Cary, and may our Chinese-American community keep writing a brilliant chapter on this land we now call home.
