#FlashbackFriday: The Exchange and National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month begins today and runs through Oct. 15. The special emphasis month begins in the middle of September because Sept. 15 is the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and 18, respectively.
The month—which celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America—began as a week. Hispanic Heritage Week was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988, during President Lyndon Johnson’s administration. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the observance to the current Sept. 15-Oct. 15 period.
This photo from the November 1975 issue appears to be the first instance of the Exchange Post covering a PX or BX celebrating Hispanic Heritage Week. The photo was taken at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, where the observance included an outdoor Mexican market where associates in traditional costumes sold paintings, decorations, flowers, piñatas and more. The Lackland Exchange also presented arts and crafts displays and entertainment, including a Mexican dance group. The original caption notes that a number of Exchanges observed the week.
Coverage expanded (and became annual) with the November 1977 issue, with a two-page spread about events and commemorations held at Exchange facilities worldwide. Top row, from left: The Ysleta High School all-girl marimba band performs at the Fort Bliss Exchange; a display of Medal of Honor winners of Hispanic descent at Exchange Europe headquarters; an associate at the Hawaii Regional Exchange enjoys arroz con pollo at the HRE Tripler Army Medical Center cafeteria; a display of Hispanic artifacts, contributed by associates, at Sheppard Air Force Base. Bottom row, from left: A commemorative display at the MacDill BX; a piñata contest at Altus Air Force Base; a dancer entertains HQ associates; a display at Edwards AFB of artifacts contributed by associates.
A photo page from 1994 shows Hispanic Heritage Month festivities at (clockwise from top left): Fort Bliss; Keesler Air Force Base; Fort Polk (now Fort Johnson); Dyess Air Force Base; Fort Meade; Charleston Air Force Base; Fort Lee (now Fort Gregg-Adams); Fort Bliss again; and Fort Leonard Wood.
In this 2009 photo, Karen Stack—then Western Region Senior Vice President, now Executive Vice President & Chief Logistics Officer—holds an award from LATINA Style magazine, which recognized the Exchange with an honorable mention as one of the Best Companies for Latinas to Work For in the United States. Every year since, the magazine has recognized the Exchange as a top Latina employer. Stack is currently the Exchange’s highest-ranking Latina.
From 2019: Dancers entertain as the Fort Rucker (now Fort Novosel) Exchange hosts its 2019 Hispanic Heritage Kick-Off event for Hispanic Heritage Month. On Flicker, you can find a photo album of more Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations from 2019, as well as albums 2017 and 2022.
Sources: Exchange Post archives, https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov
