Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, September 23, 2023

Mountain View News Saturday, September 23, 2023 

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Learning about and appreciating the diversity of those around us is an important step toward growing as 
individuals. That is why we take the time to celebrate the contributions of all cultures that work together to 
make this country great. 

 As we have done with Black History Month, and Asian Pacific Islander month, we are sharing the history of 
Hispanic Heritage Month, and recognizing and thanking those in our community for their contributions in 
making Sierra Madre a great place to live. 

S. Henderson, Publisher/Editor - Mountain Views News

The Origin: Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the 
U.S. Latino and Hispanic communities. The event commemorates how those communities have 
influenced and contributed to American society at large.

The term Hispanic or Latino (or the more recent term Latinx) refers to a person’s culture or origin—
regardless of race. On the 2020 Census form, people were counted as Hispanic or Latino or 
Spanish if they could identify as having Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, 
Cuban, or “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.”

The timing of Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of several 
Latin American nations. September 15 was chosen as the kickoff because it coincides with the 
Independence Day celebrations of five 'Central American neighbors,'—Costa Rica, El Salvador, 
Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Those five nations declared their independence from Spain 
on September 15, 1821.

 In the original proclamation, it also acknowledged Mexico, which declared its independence from 
Spain on September 16, 1810. Chile also celebrates its independence during that week (September 
18, 1810 from Spain) and Belize, which declared its independence from Great Britain on September 
21, 1981, was subsequently added to the list of nations specifically celebrated during what is now 
Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hispanic Heritage Month actually began as a commemorative week when it was first introduced 
in June of 1968 by California Congressman George E. Brown. The push to recognize the contributions 
of the Hispanic community had gained momentum throughout the 1960s when the civil 
rights movement was at its peak and there was a growing awareness of the United States' multicultural 
identities.

Brown, who represented East Los Angeles and a large portion of the San Gabriel Valley—both 
heavily populated by members of the Hispanic and Latinx communities—wanted to recognize the 
role played by those communities throughout American history.

On September 17, 1968, Congress passed Public Law 90-48, officially authorizing and requesting 
the president to issue annual proclamations declaring September 15 and 16 to mark the beginning 
of National Hispanic Heritage Week and called upon the “people of the United States, especially 
the educational community, to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” 
President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first Hispanic Heritage Week presidential proclamation 
the same day.

In Sierra Madre, we want to take a moment to recognize and thank the many members of the city's 
administration that are of Hispanic descent and who contribute so much, over and above their job 
description. 

We celebrate and appreciate the contributions of (partial listing), Our Mayor Edward Garcia, City 
Manager Jose Reynoso, SMPD Police Chief Gustavo Barrientos,, Deputy City Manager Laura 
Aguilar, Assistant City Manager Miguel Hernandez, Finance Director Hillary Guirola-Leon, Deputy 
Public Works Director Arnulfo 
Yanez, Director of Planning 
Vincent Gonzales, and Community 
Services Director, Rebecca 
Silva-Barron. 

 Left, Sierra Madre Mayor Garcia

 

 Below in the SM Emergency Operations 
center, Laura Aguilar - forefront, Miguel 
Hernandez left sitting next to SMFD Chief Bartlett, 
City Manager Reynoso, and SMPD Chief Barrientos. 

 On the right is CM Reynoso with 
an Icon of the Hispanic Community, Dolores Huerta. 
Dolores Huerta, 91, is a labor movement leader 
and civil rights activist who worked with César 
Chávez to co-found the National Farm Workers 
Association. Huerta was the first Latina inducted 
into the National Women's Hall of Fame and is still 
working as an activist and civil rights leader today.


And on the left, entertaining the "Queen of the 
Prom" at the Kensington, Chief Barrientos.

Let's embrace and celebrate the rich Hispanic 
Culture which has and still does bring so much 
to our community, as evidenced by these civic 
leaders.