Mike Levin: “this autumn from September 15th to October 15th, we commemorate the Nation's 33rd Hispanic Heritage Month. In 1968…”

“this autumn from September 15th to October 15th, we commemorate the Nation's 33rd Hispanic Heritage Month. In 1968, Congress designated a week to celebrate Hispanic culture nationally. Twenty years later in 1988, the week-long festivity was transformed into a month-long variety of activities aimed at raising national awareness of the tradition and achievement of Hispanics in America. In that spirit I would like to recognize the initiating force behind this celebration, Gil Coronado. Colonel Coronado envisioned a week-long celebration of culture and pride and as founder and chairman of "Heroes and Heritage: Saluting a Legacy of Hispanic Patriotism and Pride" a non-profit organization, set forth to make his dream a reality. A hero himself, Colonel Coronado enlisted with the Air Force at age 16 and would serve for 30 years in Vietnam, Panama, Germany and Spain before he retired with over 35 awards including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. Hispanic Americans like Colonel Coronado, have risen to the call of duty, defending the liberty and freedom the United States stands for, just as they continue to do so today in our armed services. Hispanic contributions to our culture and society go back almost 500 years, to when Juan Ponce de Leon first arrived in Florida in 1513.”