ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 291320Z AUG 00 ZYB MIN PSN 993576J39
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//SN//
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS  //N01700//
ALNAV 069/00
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV//
 
SUBJ/HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2000//
POC/MS. MARGO SHORTER/-/-/-/TEL: 703-693-0240//
 
RMKS/1.  IN ORDER TO COMMEMORATE THE IMPORTANCE OF HISPANIC CULTURE
AND HERITAGE AND TO RECOGNIZE THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS HISPANICS HAVE
MADE IN BUILDING OUR GREAT NATION, SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 15,
2000, IS DESIGNATED NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.  HISPANIC
AMERICANS HAVE SERVED WITH GREAT DISTINCTION AND EXTRAORDINARY
COURAGE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, REFLECTING UNSURPASSED
DEDICATION TO OUR CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.
 
2.  THIS YEAR'S THEME, "CHILDREN: OUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE"
ENCOURAGES US TO LOOK AT CHILDREN NOT ONLY AS FUTURE CITIZENS, BUT
ALSO AS FUTURE MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY.  HISPANICS HAVE ENJOYED A
RICH MILITARY HERITAGE IN DEFENSE OF THIS NATION, AND WE ARE
PROUD TO SAY THAT TODAY'S FORCE CONTINUES TO FOLLOW IN THE HISTORIC
FOOTSTEPS OF THE EARLY HISPANIC EXPLORERS, SUCH AS CORONADO,
CORTEZ, AND PIZARRO.  PRESENT DAY DON HISPANIC LEADERS LIKE RADM
ALBERTO DIAZ, JR. AND MGEN(SELECT) CHRISTOPHER CORTEZ AND THIS
YEAR'S NATIONAL IMAGE, INC. MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD WINNERS CAPT
HENRY GONZALES, JR. AND IT2(SW) MARIA CAMPOS FROM THE NAVY AND CAPT
GUILLERMO MEZAORTEGA AND GUNNERY SERGEANT CARLOS RIVERA FROM THE
MARINE CORPS CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF SERVICE TO COUNTRY.  WE IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY CAPITALIZE ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR
DIVERSITY.  OUR RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR
SUCCESS.  AS WE ENTER THIS NEW MILLENNIUM, OUR FOCUS IS CLEARLY TO
REMAIN THE BEST NAVY AND MARINE CORPS THE WORLD HAS KNOWN.   TO
ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE MUST FOCUS ON OUR FUTURE LEADERS, THE CHILDREN.
LET US NOT FORGET THAT THE YOUTH OF TODAY WILL BE THE LEADERS OF
TOMORROW AND THE HISPANIC DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP IS THE FASTEST GROWING
IN OUR COUNTRY.
 
3.  I ENCOURAGE WIDEST PARTICIPATION IN EVENTS SPONSORED BY NAVY
AND MARINE CORPS COMMUNITIES IN HONOR OF OUR HISPANIC AMERICAN
SAILORS, MARINES, AND CIVILIANS.  EACH INSTALLATION IS ENCOURAGED
TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS, CREATE EXHIBITS, PUBLISH ITEMS OF INTEREST IN
COMMAND BULLETINS, AND SOLICIT INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION IN
APPROPRIATE OBSERVANCES OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
 
4.  FOR DIRECT ASSISTANCE AND MORE INFORMATION ON HISPANIC HERITAGE
MONTH EVENTS, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY REPRESENTATIVE.
 
5.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE RICHARD DANZIG, SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.//
 
BT