EVERETT, Wash. - Sailors, Department of Defense personnel and civilians celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a ceremony at the Navy Operational Support Center Drill Hall on Naval Station Everett (NSE), Oct. 9.
The ceremony opened with Interior Communications Electrician 2nd Class Katia Ijames speaking on the origin of Hispanic Heritage Month and both current and past military leaders, athletes and musicians that represent a legacy of service of Hispanic Americans.
After the presentation, Ijames invited all guests to a potluck lunch focusing around the Hispanic heritage.
Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Vanessa Hernandez, assigned to the NSE galley, described what she took out of the ceremony.
"I believe that everybody in this country has gone through some sort of adversity, whether it's not being wanted or being accepted,” said Hernandez. “I’ve learned that you just have to keep moving forward no matter what is against you."
Hernandez also spoke on the significance of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and what it means to not only our country, but also to our Navy.
"It's important to celebrate the culture of diversity that we have in the United States Navy, not just Hispanic heritage, but every heritage that we have in the Navy," said Hernandez. "It shows we have come a long ways from the humble beginnings of our country, and the Navy is a direct representative of that."
Hispanic Heritage Month first started in 1968 as National Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson, and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
The date of Sept. 15 is significant because it is the Independence Day for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days Sept. 16 and Sept. 18 respectively.
Today nearly 70,000 Sailors and civilians of Hispanic heritage are serving in the Navy, making up approximately 11 percent of the Navy's active, Reserve and civilian forces.
Date Taken: | 10.09.2015 |
Date Posted: | 10.09.2015 18:40 |
Story ID: | 178626 |
Location: | NAVAL STATION EVERETT, WA, US |
Web Views: | 63 |
Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Naval Station Everett holds Hispanic Heritage Ceremony, by PO2 Justin Johndro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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