Photo By Sgt. Maj. Nathan Hoskins | Buffalo, N.Y., native Sgt. Elizabeth Vega, left, a chemical operations specialist for...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Cpl. Nathan Hoskins
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Soldiers from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade (ACB), 1st Cavalry Division, gathered on Oct. 6 to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Those in attendance enjoyed music by the 1st Cavalry Division Band, a history of Hispanics in the Army and a live exhibition of Latin dancing.
Kona, Hawaii, native Staff Sgt. Nuala Taylor, an information systems specialist for Headquarters Support Company, 615th "Cold Steel" Aviation Support Battalion (ASB), 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div., said that it is good to celebrate ones heritage in the Army – a place where conformity is often the rule.
"In the Army we all work together as one ... we act as one machine, one animal, but we start to understand our individuality (with these celebrations)," said Taylor, who was also one of the dancers for the ceremony.
Also, the busy days that are part of a deployment to Iraq leave little time to celebrate anything except for sleep. With events like this, Soldiers still get to celebrate their heritage despite the operational tempo, said Taylor.
"It's wonderful that we can, in a war zone, still have time to celebrate our different ethnicities and cultures during the year so that we can encourage peoples' pride in who they are," she said.
Guest speaker for the ceremony was Chap. (Capt.) Leonardo Rivera, the chaplain for 615th ASB. He talked about how most Hispanics will always have a love for their home.
"Every Hispanic will never forget their hometown – their family. My heart is in my town, but my body is here," said Rivera, a native of Camuy, Puerto Rico.
Although he loves America and everything it has afforded him, Rivera still has a passion for his heritage, he said.
"I love the American flag and I have a passion for my original flag, too. I have one body, one heart and one feeling for (both of them)," he said.
With all the celebrating and the jovial atmosphere, Rivera quickly added that it is not only important to celebrate Hispanic culture, but to remember those Hispanic Soldiers who have given their lives in the name of freedom.
Once the dancing and music faded, the Soldiers went back to their daily grind, but not without a better understanding of the importance of Hispanics and the diverse nature of the Army.
| Date Taken: | 10.09.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 10.09.2007 08:09 |
| Story ID: | 12779 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 310 |
| Downloads: | 273 |
This work, Air Cav. celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, by SGM Nathan Hoskins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT