Soldiers celebrate Hispanic heritage in Qatar

Photo By Dustin Senger | U.S. Army Lt. Col. Antonio Oquendo, from Margate, Fla., addresses an audience during a Hispanic-American Heritage Month observance at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Oct. 9, 2008. He highlighted Hispanic-American service in the Armed Forces. Oquendo received his commission in 1984, after graduating from the University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor of Arts in education.  

CAMP AS SALIYAH, QATAR

10.09.2008

Story by Dustin Senger 

Area Support Group - Qatar

By Dustin Senger
Area Support Group Qatar

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar – With help from a local Salsa club, a theater filled with U.S. service members celebrated Hispanic-American Heritage Month at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Oct. 9, 2008.

On Sept. 12, 2008, a presidential proclamation announced the month-long ethnic observance to recognize outstanding Americans of Hispanic descent, from Sept. 15 until Oct. 15. Camp As Sayliyah residents gathered while forward deployed on the Arabian Peninsula to support contingency areas throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Antonio Oquendo, from Margate, Fla., highlighted the strong tradition of Hispanic-American service in the Armed Forces. He received his commission in 1984, after graduating from the University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor of Arts in education.

Nadim Mansour and Bona Bech, Salsa Qatar instructors and performers, demonstrated Latin dance for the audience at the U.S. military installation.

"There are around 1,000 Hispanics in Qatar," said Mansour, who has taught Salsa dancing in the Gulf state since 2001. His studio also provides classes for Meringue, Cha Cha, Rumba, Tango and Waltz. "Most of our students are expatriates of Hispanic heritage – many are Americans."

• Date Taken: 10.09.2008
• Date Posted: 10.09.2008 10:01
• Story ID: 24732
• Location: CAMP AS SALIYAH, QA