Soldiers, Airmen and Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs employees gathered Thursday (Sept. 24) to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month - a month-long observation celebrating the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

The keynote speaker was Mexico native Alfonso Zepeda-Capistran, an employee with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, who spoke about the complexities of being Hispanic in the United States.

"I used to be Mexican," he said, a half-smile on his face as he recounted the journey that brought him from Mexico to the United States as an undocumented 12-year-old in 1978. "That's how I became Hispanic. Then there was Chicano, now it's Latino, and I'm not sure what's better. None of those names are really accurate."

Zepeda-Capistran said the title of his speech, "Embracing the Fierce Urgency of Now," came from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Monument in Washington D.C. in 1963: "We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now ... now is the time to make real the promises of democracy."

King's speech referred to "people of color," Zepeda-Capistran noted, and had much meaning for those with Hispanic heritage. The ongoing concern with undocumented workers causes some to view all Hispanics as foreigners, he explained. Undocumented workers are also viewed unfavorably during times of economic crisis, he said.

"If we were to remove every Mexican from the Madison community, the local economy would collapse," Zepeda-Capistran predicted. "We are ingrained in the community."

He shared his own journey to Wisconsin, which began with his family fleeing the village of Los Jacintos in 1974 after his father was shot over a family feud. Fearing denial of entrance, Zepeda-Capistran's father brought the family into the U.S. in installments. Zepeda-Capistran and two younger siblings were brought across by human smugglers known as coyotes. His siblings rode in a car posing as members of a U.S. family, but he hiked with a group of adults across the desert. His first attempt was unsuccessful, and Zepeda-Capistran recalled the difficulty of sitting on the ground with his hands bound behind his back.

The second attempt was successful, and Zepeda-Capistran became a legal U.S. resident in 1980. He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of California at Berkley, and his master's degree at the University of Wisconsin. Today he works with migrant families to determine their eligibility for the state DPI's migrant education program. He is also a former president of Latinos United for Change and Achievement (LUChA), a Madison-based advocacy group.

Music by the group Son Mudanza and refreshments from Taqueri Guadalajara offered additional Hispanic experiences following the discussion.