The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners ended National Hispanic Heritage Month with a formal recognition during their regular meeting yesterday. Commissioner Christian Whitehurst presented a proclamation, which was accepted by Jorge Bertran on behalf of the local Hispanic community, according to the county’s official website.
The proclamation explained that Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson and was extended to 30 days in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. The month starts on September 15, which is the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries. It also recognized that St. Johns County has strong Hispanic roots, founded by Spaniards and later influenced by people from South and Central America.
The presentation was live-streamed and is available for public viewing on the Watch GovTV Live website under the Archived Videos section. Viewers can select the Board of County Commissioners video to watch the event. The proclamation, titled "BE IT PROCLAIMED," highlights important dates during the month, including the independence days of Mexico and Chile, as well as Columbus Day, which is also known as Día de la Raza in Hispanic communities, as per St. Johns County's official announcement.
The document specifically celebrates the Hispanic community’s contributions to St. Johns County since the founding of St. Augustine in 1565 and notes that the community has doubled in size from 2010 to 2020.
