Published on: Wednesday, September 23, 2009

By Gena Chung

It was a hot day Saturday, as thousands of people attended the 28th Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival at Lane Manor Park in Hyattsville. Though the weather was beautiful and relatively temperate, the sights, sounds and smells of Hispanic heritage filled the 40-acre park with the heat of excitement and festivity.

Founded in 1980, the mission of the festival is to celebrate “the culture and heritage of Hispanics in Prince George’s County and the D.C./Maryland/Virginia metropolitan area,” according to the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation Web site. This year’s festival served as the kick-off event for National Hispanic Heritage Month, which started on Sept. 15 and ends on Oct. 15.

In Sept. 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed National Hispanic Week, which began on Sept. 15. That date was chosen because it was the anniversary of independence for five Latin American nations. It was later expanded to a month-long celebration in 1988.

“National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for our nation to celebrate the rich, vibrant traditions of Hispanic Americans in this country. These men and women are an integral part of our society, our economy, and our national identity.  It is important that we honor and recognize the enormous contributions made each day by the Hispanic community,” Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.) said, in a statement released by her office. In recent years, the festival has drawn crowds of 12,000-15,000 local residents. Shawna Fachet, area specialist for the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission (MNCPPC), and co-chair of the festival, said that this event is an opportunity to allow the larger Prince George’s County Hispanic community to celebrate their culture, food, language and dance. In fact, she said, though it has the potential to become an even larger event, MNCPPC strives to keep it more intimate.

“We strike to do this for the community. It is our local festival. We do it for the citizens of Prince George’s County,” Fachet said.

Indeed, according to the latest 2005-2007 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, there are almost 95,000 Latino residents living in Prince George’s County. That is almost 13 percent of the county’s entire population. Statistics also show that 7 percent of Latino families in Prince George’s County are living at or below the poverty line, compared to 5.5 percent of the county’s average. This is a trend that is being seen throughout the nation.

“Despite the growth and progress of our Hispanic community, unfortunately, many Hispanic families have not fared well economically over the last several years.  During the last eight years, Hispanic median household income fell by $3,557, 2.8 million more Hispanics joined the ranks of the uninsured, and 3.2 million more Hispanics fell below the poverty level,” Edwards said.

Edwards said that Congress is taking action to reverse these sobering statistics, by revamping the nation’s economic policy.

“The festival is free, and it’s a great way for a family to come and spend the day,” Fachet said.

Entertainment is always a big crowd-pleaser, according to Fachet. Bands, dancers and folkloric groups provided a vibrant display of Hispanic heritage. “Hispanics are critical to the strength and well-being of this nation. Their contributions span many sectors – economy, culture, and politics – ranging from the military, to education, to government, to nonprofits, and to business.  I look forward to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month as a time to build and strengthen ties to this vital and vibrant community,” Edwards said.