This years theme recognizes the faith, hard work and perseverance of Hispanic Americans and how these outstanding qualities have helped build the foundation of our nations society.

Hispanics have risen to great heights and established their mark on behalf of U.S. society in many fields of endeavor. There are literally too many distinctive landmarks of Hispanic progress during this century to note in this reduced space. Here are a few highlights from business, science, sports, and politics. In all, a remarkable century for Hispanics in the United States.

1900s 1905 Lucy Gonzales Parsons San Antonio labor organizer Lucy Gonzales Parsons was one of the prominent founders of the Wobblies, the International Workers of the World Japanese-Mexican Labor Association (JMLA). In Oxnard, California, more than 1,200 Mexican and Japanese farm workers organized the first farm worker union, the Japanese-Mexican Labor Association (JMLA). It was also the first to win a strike against the already very strong agricultural industry in California.

1912 Lucrezia Bori The first Hispanic opera diva in the United States was Lucrezia Bori, who made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in s 1918 PRIVATE MARCELINO SERNA PRIVATE MARCELINO SERNA of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was the first Hispanic to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in World War I.

1923 Adolfo Luque Adolfo Luque became the first Hispanic American to play in the World Series of baseball as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Also in 1923, Luque became the first Hispanic ballplayer to win the pitching championship in the professional baseball in the Unites States, with 27 wins, an earned run average of 1.93 and six shutouts Lupe Vélez The first Hispanic leading lady in Hollywood films, Lupe Vélez, made her debuts. 1920s

1928 Octaviano Larrazolo Octaviano Larrazolo of New Mexico was the first Hispanic to become a U.S. Senator José Raúl Capablanca José Raúl Capablanca, Cuban chess master and world champion

1930s 1935 Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth made her screen debut and was on her way to becoming the first Hispanic sex goddess in Hollywood films DENNIS CHÁVEZ DENNIS CHÁVEZ, in 1935 became the first Hispanic elected to the U.S. Senate, and held that Senate seat until his death in Chávez introduced the Fair Employment Practices Bill, an important predecessor of the Civil Rights Act.

1936 Sixto Escobar Sixto Escobar became the first Puerto Rican boxer to win a world championship Bert Corona Bert Corona became one of the founders of the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemens Union. He was one of the main organizers of the Mexican American Political Association, a civil rights organization that fought against racism toward Hispanics.

1943 PRIVATE JOSE P. MARTINEZ PRIVATE JOSE P. MARTINEZ of Taos, New Mexico, was the first Hispanic to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War II. 1940s 1948 Richard Alonso Pancho González Richard Alonso Pancho González became the first Hispanic to win the U.S. tennis singles championship at Forest Hills.

1950s 1951 Desi Arnaz Desi Arnaz, with wife Lucille Ball, launches I Love Lucy and introduces sitcom camera techniques still used today 1952 COLONEL MANUEL J. FERNANDEZ JR., COLONEL MANUEL J. FERNANDEZ JR., was the first Hispanic flying ace who logged 125 combat missions during the Korean War.

1958 Richie Valens Richie Valens (Ricardo Valenzuela) became the first Mexican American rock star with his hit recording of Come on, Lets Go SEVERO OCHOA SEVERO OCHOA, a biochemist, physician and professor, in 1959 became the first Latino to win a Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery of the enzymes that help produce nucleic acids and allow scientists to synthesize RNA and DNA.

1960s 1966 ROBERTO CLEMENTE ROBERTO CLEMENTE, a Hall of Famer, became the National Leagues MVP in 1966 and the World Series MVP in Playing his entire major league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he reached the 3,000-hit peak, had a lifetime batting average of.317, and hit 240 home runs LUIS ALVAREZ LUIS ALVAREZ became the first U.S.-born Hispanic to win the Nobel Prize in Physics for his research on subatomic particles. Alvarez and his son developed the theory that the extinction of dinosaurs was due to the crash of a giant meteor into Earth.

1964 HORACIO RIVERO HORACIO RIVERO, born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, was the second Hispanic 4-Star Admiral in modern Navy time Donna De Varona At the Tokyo Olympics, Donna De Varona became the first U.S. Hispanic to win a gold medal in swimming; she actually won two gold medals in the 400-meter individual medley and in the 4x100 freestyle.

1970s 1973 Manuel José Manny Fernández Manuel José Manny Fernández received the highest distinction given to any Hispanic in football: He was named to the All Time Greatest Super Bowl All-Star Team Nancy López Nancy López became the first Hispanic to win the Ladies Professional Golf Association.

1976 RICHARD E. CAVAZOS, RICHARD E. CAVAZOS, from Kingsville, Texas, was the first Hispanic 4 Star general in the U.S. Army Pablo Neruda, Pablo Neruda, Chilean poet, novelist, diplomat, and politician who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

1980s 1981 Henry Cisneros Henry Cisneros became the first Hispanic mayor of a major U.S. city when he was elected Mayor of San Antonio, Texas the nation's 10th largest city. He also served as Secretary of HUD, during President Clintons term of office Federico Pena Federico Pena became the first Hispanic Mayor of Denver, Colorado. In 1992, when President Clinton chose Peña to head the U.S. Department of Transportation, he became the first Hispanic to hold that position; and in 1997, he became the first Hispanic to serve as U.S. Secretary of Energy.

1984 Héctor García Pérez, Héctor García Pérez, the founder of the American GI Forum, became the first Hispanic to be awarded the United States of America Medal of Freedom HENRY B. GONZÁLEZ HENRY B. GONZÁLEZ,became the first Mexican- American in more than a century to be elected to the Texas State Senate. In 1961, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served there until December 1998, becoming one of the longest tenured representatives in U.S. history. He died Nov 2000.

1990s 1990 Antonia Novello President George Bush appointed the first woman and the first Hispanic Surgeon General of the United States: Puerto Rican Antonia Novello Bill Richardson Bill Richardson became the first Hispanic in congressional history to serve in a House leadership position, serving as chief deputy whip. He later was appointed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He was elected Governor Of New Mexico in Ellen Ochoa Ellen Ochoa became the first Hispanic female to serve as an astronaut.

1994 Carlos Noriega Carlos Noriega is a Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and an Astronaut. Selected by NASA, Noriega reported to the Johnson Space Center in March He has flown on two STS Shuttle Missions. He was born in Lima, Peru, but considers California his home Celia Cruz Salsa singer Celia Cruz, la guarachera de Cuba, became the first Hispanic pop singer to be awarded the National Medal for the Arts; it was presented by President Bill Clinton.

2002 Arturo Moreno Arturo Moreno made baseball history without putting on a uniform. He became the first Latino to own a major professional team outright when he purchased 2002 World Series champions, the Anaheim Angels, from the Walt Disney Co. for $184 million. Major league baseballs owners approved the sale unanimously Mel Martínez President George W. Bush names Mel Martínez to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, making Martínez the first Cuban American to hold a presidential Cabinet position Rafael Palmerio Rafael Palmerio, born in Havana, Cuba became the 19 th player and the second Hispanic to hit 500 Home Runs while playing First Base for the Texas Rangers Baseball Team. 2000s

2003 Lt General Ricardo S. Sanchez Lt General Ricardo S. Sanchez from Rio Grande City, Texas was promoted to be the top military officer In Iraq by President George W. Bush Alberto R. Gonzales Alberto R. Gonzales, the first Hispanic to serve as U.S. attorney general.

This presentation was prepared by the Equal Opportunity Representatives of 191st Infantry Brigade, Hispanic Heritage Committee. September 2008