Gettin’ cultured

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jose L. Leon
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Hispanic Heritage Month is held each year to share information on identifying and explaining aspects of Hispanic cultures, histories, regions and to make connections between Hispanic cultures and local cultures.

Several McConnell Airmen from organizations throughout the base banded together to form the Hispanic Heritage committee, in charge of organizing and conducting events held during Hispanic Heritage Month.

The committee's Hispanic Heritage Month exhibit and food show was the last event hosted on base Oct. 3, 2012, and featured food tasting and flamenco dancers.

"There were a lot of different combinations of cultures and it was accessible to personnel on base and dependants," said Staff Sgt. Maria Ruiz, 22nd Air Refueling Wing public affairs photo NCO in charge. "We wanted it to be fun mix where people could learn about different countries."

Ruiz was in charge of organizing and hosting the information exhibit and helped provide pupusas, an El Salvadorian dish, to eat.

Eight countries were represented and food from each Hispanic country was available at each booth as well as informational posters.

"It was nice to taste the food, and network with Airmen from different career fields and share our culture," said Staff Sgt. Martin Rodriguez, 22nd Logistics Readiness Squadron outbound cargo movement NCO in charge. "I'm thankful there's a committee that has to keep awareness going and being able to appreciate and share the cultural subtleties."

Hispanic Heritage Month, along with American Indian Heritage month held in November, are just a few of the many heritage and awareness months observed annually at McConnell and nationwide.