Hispanic Heritage Month
posted by Joshua Dungee | September 18, 2019 | In Arts and CultureHispanic Heritage Month is September 15 – October 15, and it is celebrated annually in the U.S. This month is celebrated to acknowledge the many contributions that Hispanic and Latino Americans have provided to the United States.
It began in 1968 and was only celebrated for one week, but in 1988 President Ronald Reagan turned it into a 30-day celebration. Hispanic Heritage month does not start on the first as many celebratory months do because September 15 is the anniversary of the independence for many Latin American countries, such as Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Emilio and Gloria Estefan are two of the many people being celebrated this month, as they received the 2019 Gershwin Prize for popular music from the Library of Congress. This particular year is significant because they are the very first people of Hispanic descent to receive this award along with being the first married couple to win the award. The prize “celebrates the work of an artist whose career reflects lifetime achievement in promoting song as a vehicle of musical expression and cultural understanding,” according to the Library of Congress website.
Hispanic Heritage Month also gives the United States military an opportunity to honor Hispanic Americans who serve or have served in any of the armed forces. About sixty-one soldiers of Hispanic descent have already received the Medal of Honor, two in the Navy, 13 in the Marine Corps and 46 in the Army. As of last year, there are more than 130,000 Hispanic soldiers currently serving, making up about 13 percent of the Army.
“The goal during Hispanic Heritage Month is to celebrate the diverse and inclusive environment of the United States Army,” according to the Army’s website.
This year, Greensboro is having a National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on September 22 from 1–5 p.m. Charlotte is having their celebration on September 26 from 4:30–5:30 p.m.
There are many different cities all around the U.S. having events and celebrations, which are open to the public and would be a wonderful learning experience
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