JBM-HH Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Photo By Rachel Everett | Sergeant First Class Erik Tue along with the U.S. Army Blues provides entertainment for attendees of the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall observation of National Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 29.  

VA, UNITED STATES

10.03.2022

Story by Denise Caskey 

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia – Music with a Latin flavor filled the air as Soldiers and civilians filtered into the auditorium at Brucker Hall on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Sept. 29 in observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

This year’s theme was Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.

“Unidos is roughly translated to mean united, connected, close,” said Joint Base Deputy Commander Lt. Col. John Dexter in his opening remarks. “Hispanics and Latinos have enhanced our nation through their rich commitment to family, faith, hard work and service. Hispanics and Latinos continue to shape communities across the country with their culture, diversity and inclusivity.”

The guest speaker for the event was Retired Brig. Gen. Dr. Irene Zoppi, who is the first Puerto Rican woman promoted to the rank of general in the U. S. Army Reserve. She spoke about what it meant to be a Latin American in the military and said she never set out to make history.

“Through the chain of command I never saw a Latina,” she said. “I always saw men, and very few Latinos. I’m talking back in the 1980s, when I came in. There’s only about three Latinos who are general officers in the U.S. Army Reserve. We have zero in active duty, and I think I can count maybe five or six in the National Guard throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. I will tell you it’s very difficult to make history. You never set out to make history.”

She went on to talk about what it means to be “Unidos” and how it is achieved.

“Unidos is inclusivity,” she said. “Without having people that look like us or have an accent like us or understand our cultures, we cannot have a stronger nation because there will not be equity for all. A stronger nation does not stand by itself. It’s by the people and for the people.

Therefore, we must be inclusive. The process of inclusion is not only representation across demographics in recruiting, hiring and retention. Employee experience is extremely important. If people aren’t equitable, developed and promoted once they come on board, they are not likely to stay. If I don’t see people like me, I am going to think that I cannot achieve it.”

Mentorship was important to Zoppi’s growth in the Armed services. She told the story of when she started looking at the military as a career path and the Air Force turned her away because she had a heavy Puerto Rican accent and did not speak English well, but she found a home in the Army.

“They invested in me,” she said, and although she didn’t see women within the chain of command, she found a place under the wing of her Black male superiors, and they acted as her mentors. “They told me, ‘You can do this,’ and if I didn’t have those men that supported me, I wouldn’t have become who I am today. If the Army had not invested in me, I would not be here today. I am you. You are me.”

At the end of Zoppi’s speech, Lt. Col. Dexter presented her with a plaque and thanked her for taking part in the celebration of Hispanics and Latins in the Armed services. Following the presentation, the U.S. Army Blues entertained the crowd with Latin flavored music and attendees sampled traditional Hispanic and Latin treats.

• Date Taken: 10.03.2022
• Date Posted: 10.03.2022 10:06
• Story ID: 430592
• Location: VA, US