By Shannon Collins DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, October 14, 2015 — With the smell of paella and
the sounds of Brazilian music floating through the air, hundreds of civilians,
service members and veterans gathered to honor their Hispanic heritage at the
Latino Heritage Festival in Des Moines, Iowa, Sept. 26-27.
“The festival celebrates and educates the community on the
22 Latin American countries represented here in Iowa,” said Iowa Army National
Guard Chief Warrant Officer 3 Connie Williams. “It’s important that we
recognize our Latin culture here in the United States and here in Iowa. They
are our future, and they have a lot to offer. Working together, we can achieve
great things through diversity of thought, diversity of background and
diversity of experience.”
The Iowa Army National Guard, based out of Camp Dodge in
Johnston, Iowa, has supported the festival since 2004. The festival has been
going on for 15 years and consists of everything from dancing and a variety of
food to Brazilian Capoeira, a type of martial arts, and dancing.
Iowa Army National Guard Capt. Jared Williams, a logistics
officer of Puerto Rican descent, said being raised in a Latino culture has been
beneficial for his military service.
“Latinos by nature, we’re very affectionate and are very
close to our families,” he said. “That’s part of the attractiveness of joining
the service. We preach the same thing. In the Army we are family. The unit
you’re with is your family. That’s your blood; the people you’re attached to.
So that bond is very important.”
Jared Williams said he joined the military because of
“obligation and duty to my country, to be a better citizen and because I have a
family heritage inside the military that drove that desire for me to serve.”
Recruiting
For Albert Martinez, a former Marine platoon sergeant who
represents the American Legion at the festival, the event gives him a chance to
represent veterans and his heritage.
“We’re here to recruit new members who may need help with
money, help, family; we try to take care of all we can do for them,” he said.
“We’re here for the veterans but we’re also here to pass on our heritage to the
younger generation to keep our heritage going.”
Iowa Army National Guard Sgt. Michael Bebensee, from
Clinton, Iowa, was on hand to recruit for the Army National Guard.
“The Hispanic community here in Iowa is huge for us,” he
said. “The more we can bring into the National Guard, the more we can
diversify, help serve them better and help serve us better. We’re here to serve
the community and educate them on the different benefits we have such as
college benefits, citizenship, job training and leadership opportunities.”
Citizenship
Jared Williams said he’s grateful for the Iowa festival, and
for the Defense Department celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, which
runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
“It’s important for the Defense Department to celebrate
Hispanic Heritage because although the soldiers represent the United States,
everyone comes from a very different background,” he said. “There are many
different nationalities within the service, and it’s important for the Latino
sector to see that we have Latinos serving in prominent positions. It’s also an
opportunity for those who aren’t necessarily U.S. citizens to join the service
and that will actually assist them in getting their citizenship into the
country. We do have soldiers who are serving who are not U.S. citizens, but being
in the service does help them get on the fast track toward getting their
citizenship.”
Diversity Supports Military Missions
The Guardsmen said diversity will help service members in
serving overseas.
“Americans all have different backgrounds and those can be
very helpful for different situations in operations overseas in the theaters in
the Middle East, Asia and South America. Those different backgrounds come into
play in critical moments and can help us in very important situations in how to
resolve those matters diplomatically,” Jared Williams said.
When it comes to festivals like this, “be open to new
things, try something new, experience something new, and learn from someone. It
doesn’t mean you have to change your beliefs or your background. Experience the
world around you. It’s such a beautiful world and such an awesome place where
we can all live together,” Connie Williams said.
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