Puerto Rican Soldiers "Parranda" at Hispanic Heritage Month observance [Image 2 of 2]

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, IRAQ

09.28.2008

Photo by Sgt. Keith Anderson 

16th Sustainment Brigade

Soldiers from the 266th Ordnance Company, out of Aguadillo, P.R., perform a Puerto Rican Christmas tradition by putting on skit and singing "La Paloma" for the crowd at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center at Q-West, Sept. 28, 2008. "Parranda" involves going from house to house, singing Christmas carols such as "La Paloma," and taking the carol-recipients along with them to the next house, in an escalating night of carols and socializing. "We go to houses and wake people up and they join in," said Staff Sgt. Guillermo Matos, operations non-commissioned officer, 266th Ordnance Co. "That's what we're doing here, trying to bring something from home." The Hispanic Heritage Month, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, raises awareness of the contributions made by Soldiers of Hispanic origins. September 15 marks the anniversaries for the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. September 16 is Mexico's Independence and Chile's is Sept. 18. This year's theme was "Getting involved: Our Families, Our Community and Our Nation."

• Date Taken: 09.28.2008
• Date Posted: 09.29.2008 09:37
• Photo ID: 118849
• VIRIN: 080929-A-6352A-002
• Resolution: 2461x1721
• Size: 2.34 MB
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, IQ