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“National Hispanic Heritage Month (Mes nacional de la herencia hispana) celebrates and recognizes the contributions Hispanic Americans have made to American society and culture and honors five of our Central American neighbors who celebrate their independence in September,” according to the Library of Congress.
“National Hispanic Heritage Month had its origins in 1968, when Congress passed a law that authorized the president to issue an annual proclamation designating the week that included Sept. 15 and 16 as National Hispanic Heritage Week, according to guides.loc.gov/national-hispanic-heritage-month.
The bill creating the month was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Edward Roybal (1916-2005), D-California, who was born in Albuquerque, one of 10 children. The family moved to Los Angeles when Roybal was 6.
He was the first Latino from California elected to Congress, serving 1963-93. He was awarded a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2014.
In 1976, Roybal founded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, creating a national forum for Latino issues and opening doors for a new generation of Latino leaders, according to roybal.usc.edu/news/congressman-roybal-presidential-medal-of-freedom.
“By directing that this week should include Sept. 15 and 16, the law celebrated Hispanic Americans and the anniversaries of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, as well as Mexico’s independence on Sept. 16,” according to the Library of Congress. “President Lyndon Johnson issued the first such proclamation, which stated in part:
“Wishing to pay special tribute to the Hispanic tradition, and having in mind the fact that our five Central American neighbors celebrate their Independence Day on the fifteenth of September and the Republic of Mexico on the sixteenth, the Congress, by House Joint Resolution 1299, has requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating the week including September 15 and 16 as National Hispanic Heritage Week.
From Wikipedia: “Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the commemoration because it is the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores (early morning, Sept. 16, 1810), which marked the start of the Mexican War of Independence (it ended Sept. 27, 1821) and thus resulted in independence for the New Spain Colony (now Mexico and the Central American nations of Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua) which became the Federal Republic of Central America.
“The 30-day period also includes many dates of importance in the Hispanic community: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua celebrate their anniversary of independence on Sept. 15; Mexico commemorates its independence on Sept. 16; Chile commemorates its independence on Sept. 18; and the celebration Columbus Day or Día de la Raza.”
Visit history.house.gov/People/Listing/R/ROYBAL,-Edward-R--(R000485).
Mesilla, New Mexico
Among its suggestions for celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month in New Mexico, the New Mexico Department of Tourism suggests a visit to Mesilla. Its web page includes the historic Mesilla Plaza, Basilica de San Albino and Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park. Visit www.newmexico.org/hispanic-heritage.
