Santo Domingo.- The Senate of the Republic, which in session this Thursday, had already given a minute of silence for the death of the merenguero laureate Johnny Ventura, joined this Friday the formal wake held in the Hall of the National Assembly , as part of the popular funeral of the artist and politician who died last Wednesday at the age of 81.
The President of the Senate of the Republic, Eduardo Estrella (Santiago), attended together with Senators Franklin Peña (San Pedro de MacorÃs); Lenin Valdez (Monte Plata); José Antonio Castillo (San José de Ocoa); and Félix Bautista (San Juan), to the funeral honors rendered to Johnny Ventura, at the intention of the Chamber of Deputies, because the merengue legend was a legislator in the Lower House between 1982 and 1986.
During the funeral ceremony, the president of the Senate, Eduardo Estrella, together with the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, Rafaela Alburquerque and Olfanny Méndez, led the first honor guard.
Then, the legislators alternated in groups of four, to continue with the honor guard, followed by condolences to the relatives of the deceased, Juan de Dios Ventura Soriano, better known as Johnny Ventura.
At the end, on the front esplanade of the National Congress Palace, Alfredo Pacheco, accompanied by Eduardo Estrella, handed over the National Flag to the wife of the late ex-legislator, Mrs. Josefina Viuda Ventura.
The president of the Senate, Eduardo Estrella (Santiago), described Johnny Ventura as a great man. “He Not only was he a great man in music, in art, but in that social and human sensitivity,” he said.
In that sense, Estrella added that Johnny Ventura was a man with a vocation to serve, with a patriotic sense and an example not only at the family level, but also for society.
At the exit of the National Congress, the mortal remains of the artist were fired with 21 cannon shots.
