2nd SBCT Soldiers honor Hispanic Americans

By Staff Sgt. Carlos DavisOctober 20, 2014

2nd SBCT Soldiers honor Hispanic Americans
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. Eruka Sigdel, from Germantown, Md., a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic assigned to Company D, 2nd Squadron, 14th Calvary Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, sings the National Anthem during the Hispanic American Heritage M... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2nd SBCT Soldiers honor Hispanic Americans
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Tasha Falcon, from Houston, Texas, a unit supply specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 225th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, and her husband Staff Sgt. Luis Fa... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2nd SBCT Soldiers honor Hispanic Americans
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. Eruka Sigdel, from Germantown, Md., a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic assigned to Company D, 2nd Squadron, 14th Calvary Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, signs "Promise" a Bachata song by Romeo Santos during the Hispani... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Performing traditional Latin and Spanish American dances and songs Soldier from 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division celebrated the diverse culture of Hispanic people Oct. 15 on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

"This celebration remembers Hispanics who have served in so many capacities, as members of the Armed Forces defending American liberties; as teachers and mentors in schools and in communities; as police officers and first responders, some boost America's economy as business owners and operators, and there are also the ones who serve in the Supreme Court, and in the halls of Congress," said Rodriguez-Cruz, the deputy assistant chief of staff assigned to Eight Theatre Sustainment Command, Hawaii. "Hispanics continue to serve in these roles every day, making a mark on this great nation of ours."

The National Hispanic Heritage Month Observance was designed to educate the community about our great American diversity.

"Hispanics are very diverse people," said Staff Sgt. Sofia Nicholson, who is Cuban decent from Miami, an information system analyze assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Bde. Combat Team "Our cultural and linguistic origins are Spanish and Latin American regardless of race and color. We can have cultural ties to Mexico, Caribbean Countries, central American, south America, or Spain."

Speaking in both English and Spanish, the guest Speaker Lt. Col. Alberto Rodriguez-Cruz spoke about the faith, family, and education.

According to Rodriguez-Cruz, this event resonates with him personally because it encompasses his personal story.

"I stand before you today as a proud American Army officer and as a proud American citizen who was born in the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico," said Rodriguez-Cruz. "I joined the Army in search of the American dream. My family story is not special, what makes it special is the theater in which the story took place, our country, the United States of America. In this land you are able to pursue your dreams, because of the many available opportunities there are here."

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the brigade hosted numerous events to recognize Hispanic service members past, present and future, and the 52 million Hispanic Americans.

"Everyone is proud from where they come from," said Nicholson. "It is important to continue highlighting every different ethnicity so that others are aware of the cultural differences in their workplace. So we can respect each other and learn to appreciate others background as much as we appreciate our own."