Strength in Diversity
The following is an excerpt from the remarks that the Honorable Michael Montelongo delivered at the first annual National LATINA Symposium on Sept. 8, 2004.
 

Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for making this special event happen — the first ever of its kind and a fitting tribute to the memory and passion of Anna Maria Arias. Thank you for being here to help us celebrate the achievements of Latinas in our armed forces. Indeed, this is a perfect start to this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, when all Americans honor and commemorate the tremendous contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made and continue to make to this great society.

The young women we recognize today deserve a great deal of credit not only because of their individual success stories but because they faithfully and admirably represent what Latinas bring to the table in defending and protecting the ideals of this great nation. Many Latina-Americans are drawn to military and public service to seek opportunities for education, growth, advancement, skills and professional success. Other reasons include a sense of patriotism, love of country, and a hunger to serve. Indeed, our community’s deep devotion to faith, family, community and country is the essence of what America is and what it stands for, and why Latinas and Latinos produce so many notable citizens.

The President has been clear about the high priority he places on recruiting talented Latinas for top positions, both in and out of the military. The President’s priority is easy to understand. We recognize that there is strength in unity and diversity; we know that every Latina success story is another story about the success of America; and when all is said and done, opportunity and promise is what America is about.

We can be proud of what our ancestors have done and what our current heroes and role models are doing. Just like Anna Maria and today’s honorees, our ancestors sought opportunities to be the best they could be; they sought to serve and contribute. And thanks to their contributions, Latinas and Latinos continue to serve this nation with pride, honor, courage and excellence.

Yet, with all that’s been done, with all that’s been accomplished by trailblazers like Anna, Linda, Maria, and these young women, there’s still much work we must do. By some estimates, the number of Latinos and Hispanics in America is expected to grow by more than 1.7 million every year. How do we ensure that this key part of our population and heritage continues to grow, prosper, develop and enrich our society? How do we give the largest and fastest growing minority segment in our society a shot at the American dream?

We need to do two things: First, we must ensure everyone, especially minorities and women, have access to opportunities — placing people in positions to perform. Second, people must prepare for those opportunities. Organizations must do their part to ensure opportunities exist and everyone has access to them. But you and I, as you’ve heard here today, each have a personal obligation to develop, grow, and prepare for those opportunities when they are presented to us. And remember, while you are doing all that you can do to be all you can be, don’t forget to pull someone else up. Help someone else make a dream true.

As a father of a 14 year-old daughter, it gives me great pride to stand here and represent the 700,000 men and women of the United States Air Force around the world to honor these women for what they’ve done and, more importantly, for what they will do as they graduate from their respective academies to join their services and serve as commissioned officers. This is the kind of talent and diversity we need in our ranks. I’m proud to be part of it and grateful that you could be here to celebrate it.

Thank you for being here today and honoring the achievements and sacrifices of our servicewomen and servicemen. May God bless you and your families; may God bless America.

[This article has been edited for www.latinastyle.com. For the full version, check out the September/October issue of LATINA Style.]

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