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As we are in the midst of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, we observe 520 years of the Spanish discovery of the Americas. New Mexico is the epicenter and the birthplace for Hispanos in the United States.
We know that the Native Americans had already been here for thousands of years prior to this, so when we say “discovered the New World” we mean it was first opened up to the entire world with the discovery in 1492.
After the colonization of the Americas by Spain, many expeditions were financed and followed by famous explorers like Christopher Columbus, Magellan, Hernan Cortez, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and finally “La Gran Entrada” led by New Mexico’s first governor, Don Juan de Oñate, in 1598.
Oñate brought farm animals to what is now New Mexico and the Southwest, including the first horses, bulls, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, donkeys, pack mules, oxen, etc.
His group also brought the first fruit trees, chile and many vegetables; farming tools like plows, augers and chisels; and musical instruments like guitars and violins. The Spanish brought Christianity and the first printing presses for newspaper and book printing.
Over 30 million acres in land grants were granted to Spanish families who settled in New Mexico to be used for farming and ranching, much the same way they lived in Spain. They built the most beautiful missions, churches and orchards that we can still see today that run all the way from Florida across the country to the state of Washington.
Through the centuries-old farming and ranching practices, techniques and expertise that Spain brought to the Americas, this established the foundation for the economy that America still enjoys today.
Simply put, America would not be what she is today without this economic power that Spain brought to the new world.
During the American Revolutionary War, Spain’s leadership and naval superiority, along with the support of Hispanos already living here, helped the 13 colonies defeat England. There is no way the 13 colonies could have defeated England with only a few cannons and muskets. This was acknowledged by President George Washington many times over.
It was our own Hispano families already living here in New Mexico who led the Civil War battles of Apache Canyon (Glorieta Pass) and the battles in Val Verde, soundly defeating the Confederates and forcing their retreat to Texas and farther south.
I am proud to say that both my paternal and maternal great-great-grandfathers (Inocencio Arellanes and Alvino Garcia) fought in these battles to defeat the Confederates here in New Mexico.
Hispanos have proudly defended our nation in every war since the Revolutionary War. Hispanos have proudly been awarded 50 Congressional Medals of Honor with the addition of New Mexico’s own Sgt. Leroy Petry last year.
Then we have had great politicians like governor and U.S. Sen. Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo, who wrote in our New Mexico Constitution that English and Spanish shall be treated with “Perfect Equality.”
Our great U.S. Sen. Dennis Chavez wrote and championed legislation that led to the Fair Employment Practices Commission in the 1940s to become the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1965.
These historical pieces of legislation by these leaders paved the way for the battle to end segregation in our schools.
In 1947, the Mendez family sued the Los Angeles Westminster High School Board to bring an end to segregation. This landmark California case served as the basis for Brown v. Board of Education in the 1950s that ended segregation in our schools across America.
So as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate 520 years of tremendous leadership, exploration, valor, economy building, education leadership, Christianity, social justice and, most of all, a proud people who have contributed to every facet and fiber of our country’s history and accomplishments.
