Hispanic Heritage Month was celebrated by Training Support Center (TSC) staff in building 3 coinciding with the month-long national observance Oct. 10.

This year, the theme " Honoring Hispanic Americans: Essential to the Blueprint of Our Nation," represents Hispanic Americans walking together with those who share in the honor of calling this nation home.

“Each year, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices made by the millions of people who have helped, and continue to help, our Navy be the most powerful in the world,” said TSC Commanding Officer Capt. David Dwyer. “The Navy is strengthened by the diversity of its force and patriots of Hispanic American Heritage continue to build legacies of freedom and diversity as they fight for the security of the country.”  

The guest speaker for the event was TSC Navy Military Training Instructor Senior Chief Hull Maintenance Technician Ralph Casillas, leading chief petty officer of USS Preble (BEQ 63). He talked about his Mexican and Spanish family ties of learning at a young age the importance of work helping his grandfather when he was younger cleaning gutters in San Antonio, Texas.

“I remember all the kids helping their mothers and grandmothers cooking Latin cuisine all day to feed the entire family which were together all the time,” Casillas said. “We have a strong work ethic, willing to work hard and dedicate ourselves to helping others.”

He reminded the audience of Hispanic history in America serving in space, sea, under sea, in the air and on land in every war of our nation. Casillas talked about Admiral David G. Farragut who joined the Navy at age nine as a midshipman who fought during the War of 1812 and the Civil War.

“Currently there are over 70,000 or Latin descent are serving as active/reserve Sailors and as Department of the Navy civilians and Latinos make up 11 percent of the enlisted force, officer ranks and flag officers,” Casillas said. “Hispanics have made and will continue to make a major impact on the success that the Navy enjoys every day and will definitely play a role in shaping the future of maritime supremacy.”

Following the presentation, staff enjoyed a potluck lunch of traditional Hispanic food.

Officially, on a national level, contributions, heritage and culture of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the U.S. have been celebrated for 48-years. In 1968 President Lyndon B. Johnson set aside a week to celebrate Hispanic heritage, and in 1988 President Ronald Reagan expanded it to cover a 30-day period. On Aug. 17, 1988, under the approval of Public Law, Hispanic Heritage Month became an official observance.

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