R 190003Z AUG 05
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 376/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/-//
SUBJ/DOD OBSERVANCE OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH//
POC/R. L. TAYLOR/CAPT/CMC (MPE)/-/TEL:(703) 784-9371/TEL:DSN 278-9371
//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PUBLIC LAW 100-402 ESTABLISHES SEPTEMBER 15
THROUGH OCTOBER 15 AS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S OBSERVANCE IS "HISPANIC
AMERICANS: STRONG AND COLORFUL THREADS IN THE AMERICAN FABRIC."
2. NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AFFORDS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO
RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO OUR NATION BY THE HISPANIC
COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR'S THEME SERVES AS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO OUR
MARINES OF HISPANIC HERITAGE. SINCE WWII WHEN PRIVATE JOSE
MARTINEZ BECAME THE FIRST HISPANIC AWARDED THE NATION'S HIGHEST
AWARD FOR VALOR, THE MEDAL OF HONOR, THE NATION HAS BESTOWED ITS
HIGHEST MILITARY RECOGNITION UPON 38 ADDITIONAL HISPANICS HONORING
THEIR SELFLESS DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO OUR NATION AND ITS
FREEDOMS. HISPANICS REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY NINE PERCENT OF THE
U.S. MILITARY, AND APPROXIMATELY FOURTEEN PERCENT OF OUR CORPS.
THEIR PROUD SERVICE CONTINUES TODAY, PARTICULARLY WHILE DEPLOYED IN
THE CONDUCT OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM. HISPANIC MARINES
CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ENSURING FREEDOM FOR ALL AMERICANS.
3. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE MILITARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
OF HISPANIC MARINES AND THEIR IMMENSE VALUE TO OUR CORPS. OUR
COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM THE HIGH CALIBER AND CHARACTER
OF MARINES RETURNING HOME FROM FAITHFUL SERVICE. THEY CARRY WITH
THEM FOREVER OUR CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.
4. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE
PARTICIPATION IN HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH OBSERVANCE EVENTS BOTH ON
BASE AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. COMMANDERS MAY USE THE DOD THEME
OR DEVELOP THEIR OWN THEMES FOR COMMAND OBSERVANCES.//