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KMC students, family members and friends joined troops from the 21st Special Troops Battalion for a fiesta in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month Oct. 14 at the Kazabra Club on Vogelweh.
The second annual celebration included a cooperative effort from Kaiserslautern’s middle and high school, civilian volunteers and 21st Theater Sustainment Command personnel assigned in the area. Remarks from key command leaders, including Command Sgt. Maj. Alberto Delgado, the TSC senior enlisted leader, and Lt. Col. Caprissa S. Brown-Slade, the 21st STB commander, punctuated the event.
Americans honor National Hispanic Heritage month each Sept. 15 to
Oct. 15. This year’s theme was “Embracing, Enriching and Enabling,” a theme Brown-Slade highlighted during her remarks.
The celebration kicked off with several traditional Hispanic dances, like the Bachata, bilingual poetry and even a guitar serenade — all performed by the middle and high school students.
In addition to the students’ performances, the cultural program educated the audience about influential Spanish and Latin American personalities, and traditional Hispanic customs.
Participants and organizers described the event as fun and successful.
“This is my second year helping with the event. Every year I learn something new about Hispanic heritage,” said Jasmine Acker, an 11th grade advanced Spanish student at Kaiserslautern High School.
The celebration closed out with remarks from Delgado, a distinguished bilingual leader of Puerto Rican descent as well as the event guest speaker.
The command sergeant major told the audience how his Hispanic heritage helped shape his identity as a leader, and shared anecdotes about consequential Hispanic leaders in American military history, noting examples of prominent figures and gallantry from the War of Independence and Civil War to the World Wars, Vietnam and Operation Enduring Freedom.
“Hispanic Americans enjoy a unique and storied history in our Army, serving and fighting in every war since the nation’s birth,” he said. “Through hard work, devotion to family, loyalty to community and country, Hispanic Americans continue to pursue the American dream and contribute to the strength and defense —not to mention the cuisine — of our nation.”
Delgado also noted the importance of Hispanic Soldiers to the contemporary Army.
“Hispanic Americans make up about 12 percent of the Army’s active component,” he told the audience. “It’s fitting we pause and honor the awesome contributions of Hispanic Soldiers, not just because they’re so important to our military history and heritage, but because they’re an essential part of our shared American story.”
