R 161844Z SEP 11

ALCOAST 432/11
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
1. SHIPMATES, EACH YEAR FROM 15 SEPTEMBER TO 15 OCTOBER WE OBSERVE
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORIES, CULTURES
AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICANS WHO TRACE THEIR ORIGINS TO SPAIN,
MEXICO, THE CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.  15 SEPTEMBER IS
THE BEGINNING OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH BECAUSE IT IS THE
ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE FOR FIVE LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES: COSTA
RICA, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS AND NICARAGUA.  IN ADDITION,
MEXICO DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE ON 16 SEPTEMBER AND CHILE ON 18
SEPTEMBER.
2. THIS YEARS THEME, "MANY BACKGROUNDS, MANY STORIES, ONE AMERICAN
SPIRIT" REMINDS US OF THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT HISPANICS HAVE HAD ON OUR
NATIONAL LIFE AND OUR SERVICE.
3. THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, HISPANIC COAST GUARDSMEN HAVE HEROICALLY
DEFENDED OUR FREEDOM.  THE COAST GUARD HISTORIANS OFFICE HAS DONE AN
EXCELLENT JOB OF CAPTURING THEIR RICH LEGACY OF SERVICE AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HISTORY/HISPANIC(UNDERSCORE)AMERICANS.ASP.  FOR
EXAMPLE, WE REMEMBER THE ACTIONS OF COAST GUARD ENGINEMAN SECOND
CLASS LARRY VILLAREAL WHO PILOTED CUTTER POINT BANKS SMALL BOAT IN
HEAVY SURF WHILE UNDER INTENSE ENEMY FIRE TO RESCUE 9 SOUTH
VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS SURROUNDED AND TRAPPED ON THE BEACH BY TWO
PLATOONS OF VIET CONG.  PETTY OFFICER VILLAREAL WAS AWARDED THE
SILVER STAR MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AGAINST AN ENEMY OF THE
UNITED STATES.
4. COAST GUARD UNITS AND COMMANDS SHOULD USE THIS OBSERVANCE FOR
APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE ACHIEVEMENTS
AND CONTRIBUTIONS HISPANIC AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO OUR SERVICE, OUR
NATION, AND THE WORLD.  VICE ADMIRAL BRICE-O HARA IS CURRENTLY IN
MEXICO COMMEMORATING THE MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY "EL GRITO" WITH OUR
PARTNERS IN THE MEXICAN NAVY - ARMADA DE MEXICO (SEMAR).  MASTER
CHIEF LEAVITT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING TIME WITH OUR HISPANIC
AMERICAN CAMARADAS AND CELEBRATING THIS MONTHS OBSERVANCE.  SEMPER
PARATUS.
5. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.