DVIDS - News - US Army Southern Showcases Culture at Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, TX – Smells of food, sounds of music and traditional dances displayed by soldiers and civilians assigned to the United States Army South (ARSOUTH) on January 12, 2018 We officially kicked off National Hispanic Heritage Month this morning. September 16, 2022, school festival in front of the head office.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th to October 15th every year since it was expanded from the first week-long celebration in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. Their independence on September 15th, along with many others across the date range.

“It is important to celebrate all of our history and culture, and our military will not be what it is today with the contributions and successes of Hispanic Americans,” explained Sgt. 1st Class James Davis, Equal Opportunity Advisor for the US Army Southern and Celebration Events Coordinator for National Hispanic Heritage Month. “Their contributions throughout history can be seen throughout the Army, including here at Army South, in the Hall of Fame, which welcomed retired Lt. Gen. Mark Cisneros earlier this year.”

During his tenure, Lieutenant General Cisneros commanded ARSOUTH and Joint Task Force Panama during Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989 and 1990, successfully capturing General Manuel Noriega.

The theme of this year’s celebration is Unidos – Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation. According to the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) website, Unidos means “union,” “connection,” or “closeness.”

“We are a multicultural army made up of soldiers of all backgrounds and professions, so I think Unidos is a great way to sum up our National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration,” said Davis. “Across our Army and across the Confederacy, this concept is an important aspect of who we are, and it really makes us a stronger, more cohesive force.”

Dr. Hector Martinez, guest speaker at the event said: It’s an inner pride in what it means to be Hispanic. ”

He went on to speak in recognition of two Hispanic-American leaders, Medal of Honor recipient Master Sergeant. Leroy Petry and her community activist, Lizzie Vasquez, by challenging attendees, Hispanic-American or not, to follow their lead and make a difference in their communities.

In a month dedicated to celebrating the achievements, history, contributions, and culture of Americans of Hispanic ancestry, ARSOUTH regularly, and sometimes routinely, seeks to better understand the partner nations with which it works. will make a big profit.

ARSOUTH’s area of ​​responsibility includes 31 countries and 15 special sovereign territories, with approximately 500 million people speaking more than 100 different languages. Soldiers and civilians assigned to the command regularly travel throughout the region building and strengthening ties with many of these nations that promote unity and cooperation throughout the Western Hemisphere.

ARSOUTH member, Major Teddy Villasenorloya, a Mexican-American, explains: Overseas Area Officer. “Whether it’s a working relationship or a military relationship, we know each other’s backgrounds, so we can go out and be friends with anyone.”

To wrap up the celebration, attendees browsed various table displays set up in front of the headquarters building to gain a cultural understanding of several Latin American and Caribbean countries.