ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 211932Z SEP 01 ZYB MIN PSN 116074J19
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS
ALNAV 094/01
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV//
 
SUBJ/HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2001//
POC/MARGO D. SHORTER/SPECIAL ASST/ODASN(PP)/LOC:PENTAGON
/TEL:(703) 693-0696//
 
RMKS/1.  EVERY YEAR, SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 15 IS DECLARED
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.  AS WE COME TOGETHER DURING THIS TIME TO
RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE UNIQUE AND VIBRANT HERITAGE OF HISPANIC
AMERICANS, WE ARE REMINDED THAT THE STRENGTH OF OUR GREAT NATION AND
OUR NAVAL SERVICE LIES IN ITS DIVERSITY.
 
2.  THE NATIONAL THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S OBSERVANCE IS, "PAVING THE
WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS."  THIS IS NO NEW TASK FOR HISPANIC
AMERICANS, WHO HAVE A PROUD TRADITION OF SERVING IN THE NAVY AND
MARINE CORPS, MAKING LASTING AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS, WHILE
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS.  THE
NAVY PROUDLY BOASTS OF HISPANIC LEADERS SUCH AS WILLIAM A. NAVAS,
JR., OUR NEW ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS;
AND THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL IMAGE MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD WINNERS,
LIEUTENANT JUAN M. GARCIA, SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER MARTIN NEGRON,
SECOND LIEUTENANT KAREN M. WALKER, AND STAFF SERGEANT RICARDO J.
ESTRADA.  ARMED WITH A KEEN SENSE OF LEADERSHIP AND UNSURPASSED
DEDICATION, THESE OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS HAVE DEMONSTRABLY ACCEPTED
THE CHALLENGE OF LIGHTING THE WAY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
 
3.  WE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY MUST CONTINUE TO BUILD A
DIVERSE, TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED FIGHTING FORCE WITH A DEEP RESPECT
FOR ITS TEAM MEMBERS, A FORCE WHICH READILY EMBRACES OUR CORE VALUES
OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.  CURRENTLY, 9.3 PERCENT OF OUR
SAILORS AND 12.9 PERCENT OF OUR MARINES ARE HISPANIC AMERICANS.  AS
YOUR SECRETARY, I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT TODAY'S NAVY-MARINE CORPS
TEAM OF ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVISTS, AND DON CIVILIANS REPRESENT THE
BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST FROM EVERY PART OF AMERICA.  TOGETHER, WE ARE
ONE TEAM, COMMITTED TO ONE FIGHT.
 
4.  DURING THIS PERIOD OF COMMEMORATION, I ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO
DO YOUR PART TO PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.  PLEASE PLAN TO
PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS SPONSORED BY NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMUNITIES
IN HONOR OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.  EACH INSTALLATION IS
ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS, CREATE EXHIBITS, PUBLISH ITEMS OF
INTEREST IN COMMAND BULLETINS, AND SOLICIT INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION
IN APPROPRIATE OBSERVANCES.
 
5.  FOR DIRECT ASSISTANCE AND MORE INFORMATION ON HISPANIC HERITAGE
MONTH EVENTS, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY REPRESENTATIVE.
 
6.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE GORDON R. ENGLAND, SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.//
 
BT