U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Kristen Allen U.S. Representative Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas) addresses Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Commander, Navy Installations Command personnel at a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on the Washington Navy Yard.

The event featured U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz (Dist. 27-Texas) as the keynote speaker.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, and this year’s national theme was ‘‘Embracing the Fierce Urgency of Now!”

Ralph Blincoe, NCIS deputy director of Management and Administration, focused his speech on some of the many accomplishments of Hispanic servicemembers throughout the history of the United States.

There was Cpl. Joseph H. De Castro, who served in the Union Army in the Civil War and was the first Hispanic American to be awarded the Medal of Honor, all the way to Marine Corps Sgt. Rafael Peralta, who was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for giving his own life to save the lives of fellow Marines during a house clearing in Fallujah, Iraq, on Nov. 15, 2004.

Blincoe also highlighted the accomplishments of some Hispanic American special agents within NCIS, including Marie Acevedo, the first Hispanic American female to reach GS-15 in the agency, and Tony Cox, who currently serves as NCIS’s deputy assistant director for protective service operations and the 2nd vice president of the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA).

‘‘Hispanic Americans have served, and continue to proudly serve and protect, American values in the face of danger,” Blincoe said. ‘‘I proudly join the rest of the nation in honoring those Americans of Hispanic heritage who celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our largest ethnic minority.”

Blincoe noted that diversity is an important foundation upon which NCIS continues to expand and grow.

‘‘Diversity is an absolute strategic imperative for NCIS,” Blincoe said. ‘‘The diversity of our people and the different skills, talents, and experiences they bring to their job are a great strength to our organization worldwide.”

Ortiz spoke about the struggles his family faced when he was younger.

He also spoke about the obstacles he overcame serving in the military, law enforcement, and in government, including many people who never thought he would reach the elected positions of constable, county commissioner, and eventually sheriff because he was Hispanic.

Ortiz said he believes the adversity he went through and the challenges he faced helped get him where he is today.

‘‘You have to have fire in your belly. You have to be self-motivating to get what you want,” Ortiz said. ‘‘Maybe I shouldn’t be where I am today, but I wanted to get away from that poverty cycle. My father had died, I had four little brothers and sisters, and I said ‘I’m going to go against all odds but I’m going to make it.’”

Ortiz concluded his remarks by thanking NCIS and CNIC personnel for honoring the Hispanics at their commands.

‘‘Hispanics have contributed a lot to this country and they will continue to contribute to this great country,” Ortiz said.

Vice Adm. Michael Vitale, CNIC, provided the closing remarks for the ceremony.

‘‘Thank you all for coming today to recognize the great diversity and heritage that we all bring to our country that makes us the great country that we are today, and will continue to make us the great country that we will be,” Vitale said.

The ceremony also included a selection of Hispanic music performed by The President’s Own United States Marine Corps Band Brass Quintet.

Guests wrapped up their cultural experience after the ceremony by tasting various Hispanic foods prepared by CNIC culinary specialists.