R 081112Z SEP 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 502/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/2010 HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH//
POC/B. R. JONES/CIV/CMC (MPE)/-/TEL:DSN 278-9371/ TEL:COMM (703)784-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. IN HONOR OF THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO THE UNITED STATES, OUR NATION OBSERVES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FROM 15 SEPTEMBER TO 15 OCTOBER.  THESE DATES ARE OBSERVED WITH RESPECT TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF SEVEN LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES; COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, NICARAGUA, MEXICO, AND CHILE. THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S OBSERVANCE IS "HERITAGE, DIVERSITY, INTEGRITY AND HONOR: THE RENEWED HOPE OF AMERICA."
2. THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY HISPANIC AMERICANS HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN THE MARINE CORPS, AND THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO TODAY. HISPANIC MARINES BRING UNIQUE QUALITIES AND A CULTURAL BACKGROUND THAT STRENGTHENS OUR CORPS AND OUR NATION. THESE PROUD PATRIOTS HAVE FOUGHT VALIANTLY IN EVERY WAR SINCE THE FOUNDING OF OUR NATION.
3. STARTING WITH THE BOXER REBELLION, 12 MARINES OF HISPANIC DESCENT HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR. SINCE THE START OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, THREE MARINES OF HISPANIC DESCENT HAVE BEEN AWARDED OUR NATION'S SECOND HIGHEST AWARD, THE NAVY CROSS.
4. TODAY, THERE ARE 23,797 HISPANICS SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY AND 10,935 SERVING IN THE MARINE RESERVES, REPRESENTING 12 PERCENT OF THE FORCE. THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY, HISPANICS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND SAFETY OF THIS COUNTRY, BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.
5. COMMANDERS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS HISPANIC AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO OUR CORPS.  COMMANDERS ARE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN OBSERVANCE EVENTS ON BASE AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND TO DEVELOP LOCAL THEMES FOR USE AT THEIR COMMANDS.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//