Hispanic Heritage Month Presentation
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ESPERANZA: A CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE AND HOPE National Hispanic Heritage Month Sept 15 –Oct 15 National Hispanic Heritage Month Each year the Department of Defense (DoD) joins the Nation in celebrating and honoring the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. 2 Hispanic/Latino The term Hispanic refers to people of any race who trace their ethnic roots to a country where Spanish is the main language, including Spain. Latino refers to people of any race who trace their roots back to countries from the Caribbean, Mexico, and throughout Central and South America. 3 Poster/Presentation This year’s theme is: “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.” This presentation highlights four individuals who embody this year’s theme: Private Marcelina Serna, Seaman Apprentice William Flores, Chief Master Sergeant Lucero Stockett, and Brigadier General Isabel Rivera Smith. 4 Private Marcelino Serna (1 of 3) Private Marcelino Serna was the first Mexican American awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second‐highest military honor for extraordinary heroism that can be awarded to Army members. When World War I began, Serna volunteered for the Army rather than wait for conscription. When the Army realized he was a Mexican citizen and immigrant, they offered to discharge him. Serna refused, choosing to stay and fight. 5 Private Marcelino Serna (2 of 3) Serna stood out for his courage during the Battle of St. Mihiel and the Meuse‐Argonne Offensive, which began on September 12th, 1918. During these battles, he took on dozens of German soldiers alone by skillfully firing at them and creating the illusion that they were fighting a much larger force. The German soldiers surrendered, and he took 24 of them prisoner. As he detained the German soldiers, a fellow American soldier tried to kill them. Serna stopped him, saying it was against the rules of war. 6 Private Marcelino Serna (3 of 3) According to Hispanics in America’s Defense, (a DoD pamphlet published in 1989), Serna was told by an officer he had to be of higher rank than a “buck” private, the lowest rank, to be awarded the Medal of Honor. He was also denied a promotion because he could not read or write in the English language well enough to sign reports. In June 2021, Texas Representative Veronica Escobar introduced legislation to posthumously award Private Serna the Congressional Medal of Honor. 7 Seaman Apprentice William R. Flores (1 of 3) Seaman Apprentice (SA) William R. Flores, with his parents’ permission, left high school early in order to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard. On January 28, 1980, SA Flores died in the line of duty while saving his shipmates after his ship, the USCGC Blackthorn, collided with the SS Capricorn, a tanker. Exhibiting composure beyond his shipboard experience, he joined another crewmember in making their way to the starboard lifejacket locker and began throwing lifejackets to fellow crewmembers in the water. 8 Seaman Apprentice William Flores (2 of 3) As the cutter began to submerge and his companion abandoned ship, SA Flores remained. He strapped the lifejacket locker door open with his belt. Struggling shipmates in the water retrieved the lifejackets as they floated to the surface. Even after most crewmembers abandoned ship, he continued to assist trapped shipmates. The Blackthorn lost 23 of its 50 crew members in the Coast Guard’s worst peacetime disaster. 9 Seaman Apprentice William Flores (3 of 3) In 2000, twenty years after the collision, Flores was formally honored for his bravery. He was awarded the Coast Guard Medal. The Coast Guard Medal is the highest non‐combat bravery award from the United States Coast Guard. In November 2011, in Flores’ honor, the Coast Guard named its third Sentinel class cutter USCGC William Flores. All vessels in this class are named after heroic members of the U.S. Coast Guard. 10 Chief Master Sergeant Lucero Stockett (1 of 2) Born and raised in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, Chief Master Sergeant Lucero Stockett and her family moved to El Paso, Texas at the age of six. “I have always admired aviation and wanted to give back to my country by serving in the U.S. Air Force. The USA has given me many opportunities that I don’t think I would have had in Mexico. My purpose was to pay back and pay forward the amazing opportunities (free school, free housing, free food) I had received as a child.” 11 Chief Master Sergeant Lucero Stockett (2 of 2) CMSgt Stockett enlisted in the Air Force in May 2001 at the age of seventeen. She began her career as an inflight refueling operator, with her primary specialty being a KC–10 Boom Operator. Her experience includes qualifying as a Boom Operator Instructor, Formal Training Unit Instructor, and Evaluator. She has served on multiple deployments supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. While enlisted, she has continued her education, receiving a B.S. in Sports Medicine from American Military University in 2014 and an M.A. in Executive Leadership from Liberty University in 2017. 12 Brigadier General Isabel Rivera Smith (1 of 3) “I joined the U.S. Army immediately upon graduation from high school because I felt I was not ready to attend college and give it my all,” says Brigadier General Isabel Rivera Smith. “Now 35 years later, it was the best decision I’ve ever made.” In 1985, she enlisted into the active Army as a Motor Transport Operator. Her first duty station was Fort Bragg, North Carolina, assigned to Charlie Battery, 368th Air Defense Artillery (HAWK) Battalion. 13 Brigadier General Isabel Rivera Smith (2 of 2) In February 2021, this former enlisted truck driver became the New York National Guard’s newest general officer. Brigadier General Smith will serve as the director of the joint staff for the New York Army National Guard. In her remarks, Smith thanked her family for their support over the years, as well as the officers and non‐commissioned officers who have mentored her as both an enlisted soldier and an officer. 14 Conclusion Today, thousands of Hispanic‐American Service members throughout the world are protecting our nation. Just as in generations past, we honor our Hispanic community—military and civilian—for their significant contributions towards protecting the United States and embodying the DoD values that unite us all as one team. 15 End Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Space Force Base, Florida August 2021 All photographs are public domain and from various sources, as cited. The information in this document is not to be construed as an official DEOMI, U.S. Military Services, or Department of Defense position. 16.