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By Pfc. Howard Ketter
20th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Sept. 15 marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The 30-day period is observed nationwide.
It is a time to celebrate Hispanic culture.
On Aug. 17, 1988 a law was enacted by President Ronald Reagan, beginning the observance of Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month. Sept. 15 was chosen because it was that day in 1821, that Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua gained their independence. Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence during Hispanic Heritage Month.
"It's great that we celebrate the independence of so many Latin countries," said Spc. Christian Cornejo, a Virginia Beach, Va., native with the 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion.
In 2007, it was reported that over 9 percent of Soldiers on active duty are of Hispanic ethnicity.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in July 2007, the estimated population of Hispanics in the U.S. was 45.5 million or 15 percent of the U.S. population.
Seventy percent of the Hispanic population is concentrated in four states - California, Texas, New York and Florida. Mexican is the largest ethnic subdivision of Hispanics in the U.S., comprising about 63 percent, followed by Central and South American, 14.4 percent; Puerto Rican, 10.6 percent; Cuban, 4.2 percent; and other Hispanics, 7.4 percent.
Hispanic culture is evident in the Army in ways such as Salsa dancing. Every Friday night at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, service members of all ethnicities come together to dance, converse, play games and share aspects of Hispanic culture.
"I celebrate my heritage by teaching my kids throughout the year to be grateful for what we have and appreciate the risks our forefathers took in America to make it so that people of our culture can have what we have today," said Capt. Sonia I. Fuertas, G-4, U.S. Army Central, a Puerto Rico native.
During Hispanic Heritage Month Hispanic heritage is observed, making everyone more aware of the Army's cultural strength.
| Date Taken: | 09.14.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2008 04:50 |
| Story ID: | 23625 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 242 |
| Downloads: | 159 |
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