By Jesus Garcia
Nov 10, 2023, 08:00 AM EST
For the first time, a Latina will be the keynote speaker at the national event to commemorate United States veterans at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC
“I say with great pride… that I am going to be the Master Ceremony… of the national celebration that is going to take place at Arlington National Cemetery,” Tahina L. Montoya, strategic advisor for Veterans Care of the Department, shared in an interview with this newspaper. of Veterans Affairs. “For those who want to see, it is the first time that they are going to have a veteran Latina woman and they are going to let me say a few words in Spanish, which I am going to say with great pride.”
Montoya is the daughter of Colombian immigrants and expressed her pride in being part of the Air Force for 12 years and now a reservist.
“I am currently in the Air Force, so I did 12 years of active service and now I am as a reservist in the Air Force, so I am about to turn 15 in May,” he said.
When asked how he would celebrate Veteran’s Day, which will be this Saturday, November 11, Montoya smiled as he shared that he promoted a celebration at his children’s school.
“Precisely what I was talking about was educating the students, the generations that follow behind us, about the importance of Veteran’s Day, then I realized that at the school where my children were, they were not doing anything in particular for Veteran’s Day. of the Veterans, so I volunteered and so that is part of what I am going to do,” he said. “Even my husband, who is also a service member, and another mom who recently retired, we are going to give a presentation to my children’s school to talk about the importance of Veterans Day.”
Montoya did not reveal the message he will give at this Saturday’s ceremony, but he said he wants his message to reach several generations.
“What I hope… that the message that is communicated is that the generations to come, of service members and veterans of the future, are more and more like me,” he said when speaking about his Latino identity.
She noted that she feels proud to serve the Air Force, because it has also helped her finish two master’s degrees and advance in her doctorate, without having to face student debt.
“I am the only one in the family to serve, daughter, eldest, Latina of immigrant parents who want to thank, want to contribute and want to show the gratitude we have for the United States,” she said. “[Quiero] “That they understand that more and more veterans are going to look not exactly like me, but minorities of different genders, of immigrant parents… so I am very proud, not only to be able to represent the Air Force, but also Latinas, Latinos.”
The 70th annual National Veterans Day celebration will take place on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery.