Army website, the goal during Hispanic Heritage Month is to celebrate the diverse and inclusive environment of the U.S. Army. Through coordinated efforts throughout the Army, this observance will be used to inform Army audiences and celebrate the contributions of Hispanic soldiers, civilians, and their families. The representation of Hispanic Americans on active duty has increased by 10 percentage points during the past 30 years. In 1985, it was three percent, and by 2016 it was 13.7 percent. The U.S. Navy celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring sailors of Hispanic heritage whose military service dates back to the Civil War. , approximately 59,000 active and reserve sailors of Hispanic heritage serve in the U.S. Navy and Marines. Annual events Established in 2013 by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, the annual Northwest Arkansas Hispanic Heritage Festival is held in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The El Barrio Latin Jazz Festival in The Bronx, New York City is held annually in September to coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month. The Smithsonian Institution hosts Hispanic Heritage Month events in Washington, D.C. One event is the Zoo Fiesta. In 2018, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian hosted the Realm of the Jaguar a series of performances featuring dances of Bolivia, Mexico and Guatemala, in addition to mask making and traditional and contemporary ceramics." The Hispanic Family Festival is held annually at Springdale Park in Springdale, Holyoke, Massachusetts. The Official Latino Short Film Festival began in 2015. The Hispanic Star, a platform created by the We Are All Human Foundation, hosted a virtual Hispanic Heritage Month kick-off in 2020 featuring artists such as Residente and Fonseca, as well as civic and corporate leaders. The program engaged leaders to discuss Hispanic heritage and pride, the community's reality and Hispanic success stories. The organization also published a toolkit developed to help individuals and organizations join in the celebration. On April 15, 2021, they launched a 2021 version of their Hispanic Heritage Month toolkit for corporations, organizations and individuals to use in their planning for this month and calling for everyone to use and share it. References Bibliography External links Hispanic Heritage Month Commemorative months Hispanic and Latino American culture Observances in Canada Observances in the United States September observances October observances