The Bridgeport community celebrated Sunday the independence of the Dominican Republic with a flag raising at City Hall. Thursday marks the Dominican Republic's Independence Day and freedom from Haiti in 1844. Vice President of Dominican American Coalition of Connecticut Maria Matos said it's important for her to honor her homeland's history and share it with younger generations. "Some of our kids are born here and this is a way for us to keep the culture...They know their history and we celebrate today with food, Dominican food, all kinds of stuff that reminds us of where we are from...it's cultural and historical and patriotic at the same time," Matos said. Organizers thanked the city's Dominican-Americans for their contributions to Bridgeport's businesses and local government.