Guantanamo Bay Celebrates Hispanic Culture

Courtesy Photo | Members of "Puerto Rican Fever," a steel drum band formed by service members from the Puerto Rico Army National Guard, perform at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, July 25. The Puerto Rico Army National Guard is here on a yearlong deployment as Joint Task Force Guantanamo's headquarters company. JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees, including those convicted by military commission and those ordered released by a court. The JTF conducts intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination for the protection of detainees and personnel working in JTF Guantanamo facilities and in support of the War on Terror. JTF Guantanamo provides support to the Office of Military Commissions, to law enforcement and to war crimes investigations. The JTF conducts planning for and, on order, responds to Caribbean mass migration operations.  

09.11.2009

Courtesy Story

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

Hispanic heritage awareness was first officially recognized in the United States in 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a week in mid-September as National Hispanic Heritage Week. It wasn't until 1988 that President Ronald Reagan extended National Hispanic Heritage Week to a month-long observance.

The term Hispanic or Latino, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the U.S. of Spanish Hispanic Latino origin. According to the Bureau, more than 36 million people in the U.S. identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino.

The Hispanic population at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay continues to grow each day.

"Currently there are [more than 400] Hispanics serving on active duty [at Joint Task Force Guantanamo]," said Army Master Sgt. Michael Alicea, with JTF Guantanamo housing. There are many other Hispanics stationed at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay with the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Others still, work as civilian contractors in various capacities at the naval station.

"It's nice to know [there are many Hispanics] on this island; however, being Hispanic and in the military is no different for me than it is for anyone else," said Army Spc. Damaris Quintana, a human resource specialist attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Company with the Puerto Rico National Guard. "When I put on my uniform, I report into work and conduct business just like everyone else."

Tastes of Hispanic culture can be found all around Guantanamo, from the salsa, meringue and bachada dancing to the frequent concerts by Guantanamo Bay's own "Puerto Rican Fever," a steel drum band formed by members of the Puerto Rico National Guard.

This year, the naval station's Hispanic American Heritage Association celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting a dinner dance, Sept. 19. The association has operated at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay for several years and is committed to providing a sense of Hispanic culture to the Guantanamo community.

"We wanted to hold the event so that the [Guantanamo Bay] community can come out and celebrate our Hispanic heritage," said Doraima Alvarez, an independent contractor who works on base.

A lot of work went into selecting a speaker, choosing the right decorations and securing performers for the event. The menu for the dinner will consist of authentic Hispanic appetizers such as beef pastelitos, spiced potato cakes and fresh corn fritters. The main course will include roast pork, arroz con gandules (rice w/pigeon peas), and cassava (yucca). The dessert will be tres leches (custard). The roast pork and rice are all prepared with a Latin flare.

The entire Guantanamo community was invited to join in the new cultural elements.

• Date Taken: 09.11.2009
• Date Posted: 09.16.2009 14:36
• Story ID: 38870