Retired Air Force Col. Sid Gutierrez of Albquerque, the first Hispanic-American to pilot and command Space Shuttle flights for NASA, will emcee an awards reception from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at La Posada in Downtown Albuquerque.

An Air Force Academy graduate and longtime pilot, Gutierrez piloted one Shuttle mission and commanded a five-member crew of another after joining NASA as an astronaut in 1985. A year after his retirement in 1994, he was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame.

The reception, which marks the conclusion of KAFB's monthlong Hispanic Heritage celebration, will recognize youth art contest winners and feature a high school speaker from Albuquerque Academy. Special recognition of Lorenzo and Josefina Pimental, guitarists from New Mexico, for the first Hispanic Heritage Month Distinguished Honor Award will wrap up the evening’s events.  Gustava Pimental, who inherited his craftsmanship from his father Lorenzo and apprenticed under him for more than 20 years, will serenade his parents at the event.

“Bridging with our youth,” was Kirtland’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme for 2005.  Special events held throughout the month included a salsa night, youth art contest, kick-off luncheon, piñata contest and a free piñata party for more than 100 youth at the Kirtland Youth Center.

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