Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) took part in observing Hispanic Heritage Month aboard the floating accommodation facility, Oct. 1.

The event included Lincoln Sailors of Hispanic heritage sharing stories of growing up in the Hispanic culture and how that influence impacts them as a Sailor. The ceremony concluded with a cake cutting ceremony with the Lincoln's Commanding Officer, Capt. Ron Ravelo, Command Master Chief Petty Officer Lee Salas and Lincoln Sailors of Hispanic descent.

According to 2010 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanics comprise 16.3 percent of the total United States population, or 50.5 million people, forming our county's largest racial or ethnic minority. The Pew Research Center projects that by 2050, a quarter of the nation's workforce will be Hispanic.

Navy Office of Diversity and Inclusion Public Affairs indicates that more than 58,000 Hispanic active duty and Reserve Sailors serve in the Navy, making up more than 13 percent of the Navy's force structure.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Sandra Guzman, a Hispanic Sailor who participated in the event commented on what this month means to her.

"It's good to know where we came from and where we are going," Guzman said. "It's important to honor our past and to see how much we've grown."

Observance of Hispanic Heritage began Sept. 17, 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson designated a week in mid-September as National Hispanic Heritage Week. Twenty years later in 1988, President Ronald Reagan extended that week to a month-long observance.

Salas, a Latino and native of San Antonio, Texas, spoke to the participating Sailors during the event. Afterwards, he commented on why believed events like these were important for the Navy.

"I think it's important because it reminds Sailors of Hispanic descent where we came from and why we serve," Salas said. "Also, these celebrations remind us that many cultures make up the Navy, not just one."

In conjunction with this ceremony, Lincoln is slated to hold several Hispanic heritage oriented events throughout the month of October including an exercise session with salsa music, and a luncheon featuring a variety of Latino cultures.

Lincoln is currently undergoing Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, Va.

Lincoln is the fifth Nimitz-class ship to undergo RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet, and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's defense.


For more news from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), visit www.navy.mil/.