HARLINGEN, RGV – Local residents Connie and Juan Salas are the creators of the Hispanic heritage event in Harlingen, Diez y Seis de Septiembre.
Connie and Juan have been married for 59 years. They originally left Harlingen and headed to Chicago after experiencing negative attitudes towards Hispanics in the 1950s in Harlingen. They returned decades later and found things had improved considerably. But, they were still not satisfied with the amount of recognition for the Hispanic culture.
In order to remedy this issue, Connie and Juan established Diez y Seis de Septiembre, initially with the Harlingen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The event is now run by the City of Harlingen.
“There was nothing being done to promote our culture and our traditions and for that alone I thought I had to continue doing what I did for the last 25 years in Chicago,” community volunteer and Diez y Seis de Septiembre civic event co-founder, Connie Salas told the Rio Grande Guardian.
The Diez y Seis de Septiembre civic event has been held for 11 years to coincide with Hispanic Heritage month. This year’s event will take place on September 10 at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium, free of charge, from 7-9 p.m.
Connie Salas praised Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell for all the work he has done to promote Diez y Seis de Septiembre and Hispanic heritage. “Mayor Boswell has been incredibly supportive,” Salas said.
At a news conference held to promote the festival, Mayor Boswell said: “It’s great that we have this event that celebrates these two cultures of our communities and especially the ‘Diez y Seis de Septiembre.’ Every year we have more and more come to our event at the auditorium. More and more people that really enjoy it. They like to see the dancing, the mariachi and it’s just fun,”
Boswell added: “It’s just a great opportunity to celebrate the friendship that we have with our neighbors in Mexico. People love to come out for a party and this is great party. It’s a great show and it’s an entertainment that is free. There’s no charge to come and enjoy the wonderful entertainment that’s going to be there. It is entertainment that is provided free of charge by the City of Harlingen and the Counsel of Mexico.”
The Diez y Seis de Septiembre event features an enactment of "El Grito de Dolores,” a shout symbolizing the Mexican Independence and will involve the newly-appointed Mexican Consul Juan Carlos Cue Vega. Other activities will include performances by Mariachi Mariposas, Mission Parks and Recreation Folklorico, and Grupo Folklorico.
“These are different days,” Salas said, remembering back to a time when there was less unity in the community. “We have got to work together, to understand each other and that’s the only way we opened the doors in Chicago, with big communities, Hispanics, Columbians, Cubans, Puertorriqueños. We all worked together. We have to learn to work together. For the new generations, let’s remember where we came from and what our heritage is.”
