The Riverbank City Council recognized Hispanic Heritage Month with a declaration honoring resident Jose Enrique Morales at its regular meeting earlier this month.
Officially, the month stretches from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, with the city celebrating the rich history and contributions made by Hispanic and Latino individuals.
According to national statistics, 18.5 percent of the American population is of Hispanic or Latino origin. In Riverbank, recent census data indicates the population is about 60 percent Hispanic.
“We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success while honoring them,” the city officials noted.
At the meeting, the council honored Jose Morales, who is from Guayanilla, Puerto Rico. They noted that he came to the mainland of the United States as a teenager and settled in California. He lived in Bakersfield with family and friends for several years, then moved to Hayward, then to the local area, settling in Riverbank in 2004.
For over 50 years, he has worked as an auto body technician, owning J & A Autobody.
They note that he loves giving back to his community, volunteering for Central Valley Community Resources as the chef for their crab feeds, Senior Citizen’s Brunch, Veterans Luncheon and other fundraisers.
He also serves as vice president of PROUD, the Puerto Rican Organization United for Development.
Council members said that Morales is proud to share his Hispanic Puerto Rican culture, by the way he cooks his delicious food. He has six children, 13 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
According to the Library of Congress, the observation of Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a month-long observance by celebrating histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
The start of the observance on Sept. 15 is significant because it is the anniversary for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.
