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[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

 CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND THE FIRST ANNUAL VIVA BREVARD 
                                FESTIVAL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL POSEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 19, 2012

  Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, on September 15th families and businesses 
across the nation will begin observing National Hispanic Heritage Month 
in order to recognize the many outstanding contributions to our nation 
that are made by Americans of Hispanic descent. One celebration taking 
place in the City of Palm Bay, Florida, will be the First Annual Viva 
Brevard festival.
  Al Dia Today along with local businesses, non-profit organizations, 
and residents of Brevard County will gather together on Saturday 
October 13, 2012, near the Ted Whitlock Community Center in Palm Bay 
Regional Park to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month with a day full of 
great Latin American cuisine, culture and entertainment.
  Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month we also honor Hispanic Americans 
for their strong tradition of service in our Armed Forces. These proud 
patriots have fought in every war since our founding, and many have 
earned the Medal of Honor for their courage.
  Hispanic service men and women have shown their love for the United 
States by answering the call to serve, and we owe them and their 
families a tremendous debt of gratitude. Their patriotism and valor 
have added to the character and strength of our nation.
  The first Hispanic American to serve in the U.S. Congress represented 
Florida. Joseph Marion Hernandez was born in St. Augustine when Florida 
was a Spanish colony. In 1822 when Florida became a U.S. Territory, 
Hernandez transferred his allegiance to the United States and was 
elected a Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives serving in our 
nation's Seventeenth Congress. He also served as a brigadier general 
and was the presiding officer of Florida's Territorial House of 
Representatives.
  There have been many Hispanic Americans with notable achievements in 
science and medicine. The first Hispanic American Astronaut, Franklin 
Chang-Diaz of Costa Rican descent, earned his doctorate in applied 
physics from MIT and flew an astounding seven Shuttle Missions. 
Astronaut Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic female in space, flying 
four Shuttle missions.
  Hispanic Americans have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics and 
Medicine, the Medal of Honor; have won the Pulitzer, Oscar and Tony 
Awards, achieved sports fame, and have been inducted into the Rock and 
Roll Hall of Fame.
  National Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the 
spirit and accomplishments of Hispanic Americans everywhere and events 
like the Viva Brevard festival provide an opportunity to share and 
experience the diversity of cultures from Latin American countries and 
bring us all closer together as a community.

                          ____________________
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