ANSBACH, Germany (Oct. 10, 2014) -- Katterbach Fitness Center transformed into a festive hotspot of dancing, music and cuisine from abroad during the National Hispanic Heritage Month observance Oct. 3.
The event, hosted by U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach, the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade and Ansbach community equal opportunity advisers, brought together volunteers from different Hispanic cultures to share dances, cuisine and culture from places like Panama, Colombia, Peru and Puerto Rico.
The event also served to educate and remind the community of the many contributions Hispanic people have made to the U.S. Army, the military and America, and the cultural impact Americans with Hispanic heritage have made and continue to make across the nation.
"You name it, there are writers, philosophers, political leaders, musicians, athletes and scientists that have shaped our society," said Lt. Col. David A. Markiewicz, the executive officer for USAG Ansbach.
Markiewicz called attention to people like Nobel Prize recipients Luis Walter Alvarez and Mario Molina, astronauts Carlos Noriega and Ellen Ochoa, and countless others.
"I could go on and on how Hispanic-Americans have distinguished themselves; how they contributed to help shape our nation and strengthen our military -- military leaders who served proudly, who earned the Medal of Honor, who gave their life in service to their nation, standing at the front lines to defend and preserve our liberty and our freedom," Markiewicz said.
One of those Hispanic-Americans who serves proudly is Maj. Elpidio Rodriguez, a decorated member of the 12th CAB was the keynote speaker for the event. In his speech, Rodriguez reflected on what it means to be Hispanic and what drives Hispanics as a people.
Rodriguez expressed his humility as he talked about the many barriers Hispanic-Americans have already broken throughout the history of the nation and U.S. military, adding, "I realized that trail was blazed long before I ever came along," with Hispanics in virtually every part and level of society.
Even among the brothers and sisters he grew up with in southern Texas, he was not the first to graduate high school and college, join the military or even graduate flight school.
"The real challenge is now to take advantage of the opportunity that [our forefathers] gave us, the opportunities that we have today to get where we need to be tomorrow," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez added that possessing a good outlook on the future is and will continue to be an important component to the success of the Hispanic people.
"I really think that that is one of the major driving factors that continues to propel Hispanics' success -- that we still have a desire to make the lives of our children better, and our children have that desire to be better than their parents," he said. "As long as we continue to subscribe to that train of thought, we will continue to be successful."
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