BOLINGBROKE, Illinois: An Egyptian flag was raised in the village of Bolingbrook, Illinois, on Sunday, July 23, to celebrate Egypt’s 71st National Day and its beginning as a republic.

Although Bolingbroke, 16th among Illinois’ 1,299 municipalities, is more than 9,600 kilometers from Cairo, and only 53 kilometers from Chicago, the village has the distinction of being led by the country’s only Egyptian-American mayor, Mary Alexander Basta.

In Bolingbrook, 17-year-old Basta was elected in 2019 as trustee, and the following year appointed sheriff to succeed Roger C. Clare, who had retired after serving 14 years. Basta was overwhelmingly re-elected by voters in April 2021 as CEO of Bolingbroke.

Basta and her husband, Dr. Imad Basta, have long been supporters of the Egyptian American community – and have never given up on their heritage. Basta confirmed her roots at the flag-raising ceremonies held at Myer Park in Bolingbroke, saying that Egypt and America have a lot in common.

“Today is a momentous occasion. We gather here to celebrate our heritage and our unity. It is a great honor for me to stand here today as Mayor of Bolingbroke, and as the first Egyptian female mayor in the United States,” Basta told the gathering of Egyptian officials, officials, and residents in Bolingbroke.

“It is an honor to serve this wonderful community and also to represent my homeland, Egypt. As we fly the Egyptian flag high today, we not only honor the land of the Nile and its rich history, but also acknowledge the diverse tapestry of cultures that make up the heart of Bolingbroke.”

Among the notables were Egypt’s Consul General Sameh Aboul Enein, Deputy Consul General Basil Taman, Illinois Secretary of Transportation Omar Othman, Egyptian American Association President Dina Rasheed, and former Mayor Clar.

Bolingbrook Deputy Mayor Michael Lawler and several village officials and department heads also attended the meeting. The prayer was led by Father Theodore Labib and Sheikh Hassan Ali.

“Our city is a true melting pot where people from all over the world come together to create a vibrant and thriving community. I am proud of my Egyptian roots and I see it as a village that connects us to the borders of the world.

Egypt was the cradle of civilization and left an incredible mark on human history, science and culture. The legacy of the pharaohs, the brilliance of the pyramids, and the timeless treasures of ancient Egypt inspire us to reach for greatness and embrace the wisdom of our ancestors.”

According to the US Census, Bolingbrook is a diverse community of whites, blacks, Asians, and Latinos. It also has a large number of citizens of Egyptian and Arab heritage. However, Arabs are classified in the census as white and are not listed separately to determine their population size.

Despite the census’ shortcomings, Basta said “diversity” breeds unity and understanding. Let us remember that the richness of our society lies not in our differences but in our common humanity. Together we are building a place where dreams are nurtured, where opportunity abounds and everyone, no matter their background, can thrive and succeed.”

Egyptian-American groups organized similar flag-raising across the country and in Canada.