Photo By Master Sgt. Teddy Wade | Local school students, Soldiers and civilians from Team Redstone and the Army Materiel...... read more read more
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Employees and Soldiers from across Redstone Arsenal converged into Bob Jones Auditorium Sept. 25 to honor contributions made by Hispanic Americans, particularly those who serve in or with the armed forces.
Members of Army Materiel Command Band’s “Lift Off” quartet played La Bamba -- a Mexican folk song popularized by Ritchie Valens in the late 1950s -- before the observance began. It was hosted by AMC’s Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Allan Elliott.
He talked fondly of an NCO with whom he worked as a lieutenant in an infantry platoon, Master Sgt. Hernandez, a multi-tour Vietnam veteran who held a Master’s degree and whose first language was Spanish.
“In the late 1950s, when Sergeant 1st Class Hernandez first came in, Spanish was not allowed to be spoken, and now they were ordering him to speak Spanish,” Elliott explained. “He had a strength of character I had never before seen.”
So when Hernandez was instructed to provide English translation services, the senior NCO wrestled with his gut, though he never thought to defy his superiors, Elliott said.
While Elliott laughingly said he was afraid of the battalion commander, he summoned the courage to approach him and asked if Hernandez may be excused from the translation detail, given the background.
Elliott said he remembers Hernandez as a stand-up leader who took a chance on a junior officer.
“He engaged me with the tools needed to be successful as an infantry platoon leader, and he staked his professional reputation on it,” Elliott said.
It was something Elliott said he was honored to do, to give back even just a little to the man who helped a junior officer at the beginning of his career.
“We have to live with the terrible sin of our prejudices, and seeing it directly impacting someone I loved and respected was a sign that some work needed to be done. As a nation, we owe it to the future to acknowledge our past mistakes and commit to equality and justice for all,” Elliott said.
Elliott then introduced the guest speaker, Christine Chavez, who is the granddaughter of the late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, and a civil rights activist in her own right. She recently was named Latina Magazine’s top Latinas for her longtime involvement with issues, particularly marriage equality.
“We’re not only here today to learn about Hispanic culture, but to acknowledge that the progress we’ve made today is because of the contributions of those who came before us,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez, whose mother was one of Chavez’s eight children and one of 31 grandchildren, is the Farmworker Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Prior to that, she was the United Farm Workers’ political director, where she raised public awareness to help protect the civil rights of farm workers, as well as the larger immigrant community.
Hernandez said she once heard her grandfather say, “We don’t need perfect political systems; we need perfect participation,” an idea he also instilled in his family.
“He was all about solidarity and community, and told us to always see thing through until the end, no matter how hard it gets,” Hernandez said.
She remembered how excited she and her sister were to accompany Chavez on a trip to New York in the 1980s. They begged their grandfather to stay in a five-star hotel in downtown Manhattan, though his philosophy was to visit with the people he was supporting, preferring to “break bread” with them. He agreed to allow the girls to spend a single night in the hotel, but when they arrived, maids were out picketing in front of the hotel.
“He made us walk that line to show solidarity,” Chavez said with a chuckle. They did not stay in the hotel that evening.
Chavez told a few more anecdotes to illustrate her grandfather’s legacy and how his influence has trickled down to touch so many lives since his death in 1993.
The event concluded with Elliott presenting awards for an essay contest, as well as static display contest, and a reception catered by a local bakery. The static displays and art remained available in the lobby for viewers to peruse.
Hispanic American Heritage Month is through Oct. 15.
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2017 10:41 |
| Story ID: | 250534 |
| Location: | REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, US |
| Web Views: | 26 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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