BALCON CRIOLLO 2014 at La Casita Cultural Center, Syracuse University

Balcón Criollo SEPTEMBER 19 – DECEMBER 19, 2014

La Casita Cultural Center 109 Otisco St., Syracuse, NY, 13204

Balcón Criollo is gallery-wide installation of meaningful artifacts showcasing the life of our communities and our family histories. This year's edition of La Casita’s yearly signature show honors Hispanics in the U.S. Armed Forces and our military families.

Meaningful memorabilia and historic photos of our often unsung but enormously proud heroes is featured in La Casita’s Balcón Criollo through December 19, 2014. Many of the items on display come from the homes in our city neighborhoods and our Syracuse University campus communities. The Office of Cultural Engagement for the Hispanic Community at Syracuse University has teamed up with Onondaga County to make this a community-wide tribute.

This program is possible thanks to the collaboration of Veterans Affairs offices locally and all the way to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Among the honored veterans, La Casita especially recognizes the troops of the 65th Infantry Regiment; the only segregated all Hispanic battalion in the history of the U.S. Army, nicknamed “The Borinqueneers”, who served our nation in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. Former Borinqueneer and Korean War veteran, Eugenio Quevedo, was a guest of honor at the inaugural ceremony in September 20, 2014 at La Casita.

La Casita hosts a series of gatherings where community members on and off campus gather to share their stories. These sessions are documented and preserved in La Casita’s Cultural Heritage Archive.

Supported by the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse University, La Casita's mission is to serve as a cultural bridge between the Hispanic communities of Central New York and Syracuse University's students, faculty and staff.

Eugenio Quevedo

Photos provided by: Brigadier General Héctor López, alum of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

Fotos provistas por el General Brigadier, Héctor López, graduado de la Escuela Maxwell en Syracuse University.

Brigadier General Héctor López led what became known as Camp Borinquen (Cedar II—the only camp in Iraq that did not suffer fire damages during 2003-2004). The pictures below illustrate soldiers from the 394th QMBN. This was the first mainly Hispanic battalion in charge of a military base in combat.

General Brigadier Héctor López, dirigió el área conocida como Camp Borinquen (Cedar II—la única base que no sufrió daños causados por fuego entre 2003-2004). Las imágenes muestran soldados de QMBN #394, el primer batallón mayormente hispano al mando de una base militar en combate.

Major Vilma López, second in command at 394th QMBN as official executive.

Mayor Vilma López Oficial Ejecutiva del Batallón 394th, la segunda al mando del Batallón 394 en Iraq.

From the archives of the Paniagua-Látimer family in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, images of William G. Látimer during WWII (left and center), and one of Latimer’s grandsons, Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Lavandero Látimer and wife, Melissa, on their wedding day in Dorado Beach Hotel, Puerto Rico.

De los archivos de la familia Paniagua-Látimer en Guaynabo Puerto Rico, a la izquierda, imágenes de William G. Látimer durante la Primera Guerra Mundial. A la extrema derecha, uno de sus nietos, el Teniente Coronel Fernando Lavandero Látimer y su esposa, Melissa el día de su boda celebrada en el Hotel Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico.

Captain Ramón Pedraza, native of Ceiba, Puerto Rico. Served (19921995) Capitán Ramón Pedraza nativo de Ceiba, Puerto Rico. Sirvió d 1992 a 1995.

Lieutenant Commander Juanita Pérez Williams. Served as a Naval lawyer in the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corp from 1988-1995 Teniente Comandante Juanita Pérez Williams. Sirvió de abogada en el Navy como parte del Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corp del 1988-1995

From the archive of the Chardón family in Puerton Rico, these photos were loaned for the exhibit by Lorena Rengel, a graduate student of the Janklow Arts Leadership Program at Syracuse University and great granddaughter of Colonel Fernando Chardón.

De los archivos de la familia Chardón en Puerto Rico, estas fotos fueron prestadas para la exhibición por Lorena Rengel, estudiante graduada del Programa Janklow de Liderato en las Ates en Syracuse University, y biznieta del Coronel Fernando Chardón.

President John F. Kennedy in a historic visit to Puerto Rico, with Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Muñoz Marín (left) and Colonel Fernando Chardón (center), on December 15th, 1961.

El Presidente John F. Kennedy durante su histórica visita a Puerto Rico, con el Gobernador de Puerto Rico Luis Muñoz Marín (izquierda), y el Coronel Fernando Chardón (al centro), el 15 de diciembre de 1961.

Antonia C. Novello was appointed US Surgeon General in 1990. She was the first woman and the first Hispanic to hold the position.

Antonia C. Novello fue nombrada Directora General de Salud Pública de EEUU en 1990. primera mujer y primera hispana en ocupar el puesto..

From 2011-2012, Captain Susana Santiago completed a tour where she earned a badge of honor for risking her life in hazardous zones. She completed training for acceptance onto a FET team (Female Engagement Teams/Combat Support Teams), and was chosen as “the face” of Climate Change movement for Earth Day 2013.

La Capitana Susana Santiago sirvió por 12 meses en un “tour” con las fuerzas armadas (20112012). Durante este tiempo, fue condecorada por arriesgarse en una zona de peligro. Completó el entrenamiento para ser admitida al equipo FET (Female Engagement Teams/Combat Support Teams) y participó fue seleccionada como “la cara” del movimiento de Cambio Climático para actividad del Dia Del Planeta Tierra 2013.

Credit: U.S. Army Photo

Soldiers from the 394th QM Bn painting the Garita patch at a water tower in Iraq where it became Camp Borinquen (Cedar II) The 394th QM Battalion, became the first Battalion size unit out of Puerto Rico that built and commanded a Forward Operating Base in Iraq in 2003. The water tower became a beacon of hope for convoys that needed a place to refuel, rest and be fed in Iraq.

Soldados de la 394 QM Bn pintando una Garita en la reserva de agua en Iraq, en lo que se denominó Camp Botinwurn (Cedar II). El Batallón QM n394 fue la primera unidad proveniente de Puerto Rico que construyó y asumió el comando de una Base de Operativos de Avanzada en Iraq en 2003. La torre de agua se convitió en un símbolo de esperanza para los convoys que necesitaban un lugar para descansar y abastecerse de combustible y alimentos en Iraq.

The 65th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed "The Borinqueneers" from the original Taíno name of the island (Boriquén), is a Puerto Rican regiment and the only all-Hispanic segregated regiment in the history of the United States Army. The 65th Infantry Regiment participated in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.

El Regimiento 65 de Infantería, también conocido como “Los Borinqueneers”, palabra que viene del nombre taíno para la isla de Puerto Rico, Boriquén. Este era un regimiento puertorriqueño del Ejército de los Estadios Unidos, el único regimiento hispano segregado en la historia del Ejército. El mismo participó en la Primera y y en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, y en la guerra de Corea. El Regimiento 65 de Infantería recibió una Medalla de Oro de parte del congreso de los Estados Unidos en el 2014.

The Borinqueneers is the first documentary to chronicle the story of the Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment, exploring stories of courage, triumph and struggle through rare archive materials and compelling interviews with veterans, commanding officers and historians. It reveals how the 65th served meritoriously in World War I, World War II and the Korean War, even as they faced discrimination within the Army.

Esta conmovedora película relata la historia del Regimiento 65 de Infantería, la única unidad segregada de soldados hispanos en la historia del Ejército estadounidense, compuesta por puertorriqueños, a través de entrevistas con los veteranos y extraordinarias imágenes de archivo. Los Borinqueneers se destacaron durante las dos Guerras Mundiales y en la Guerra de Corea, a pesar de la discriminación que existía dentro del Ejército.

GALLERY HOURS Monday – Friday / 12:00pm – 5:00pm, or by appointment.

Guided tours available by appointment. English and Spanish.

For more information please contact us: Tel. 315.443.2151 / Email: lacasita@syr.edu

OUR TEAM / NUESTRO EQUIPO Tere Paniagua Executive Director Cultural Engagement for the Hispanic Community at S.U.(OCE)

Monica McLean Programming Coordinator, OCE

Lizet Fuentes Administration Coordination La Casita Cultural Center

Luz Encarnación Syracuse University, B.A. 2016 Community Liaison Coordinator & Gallery Installer for Balcón Criollo La Casita Cultural Center

Lorena Rengel Syracuse University, M.A. 2016 Janklow Graduate Fellow Production Associate, OCE

Jeorge Cymon Syracuse University, M.A. 2016 Public Relations & Media Outreach, OCE

Tara Schoenborn Syracuse University, B.A. 2016 Communications & Social Media, OCE

Paulina Colón Syracuse University, B.A. 2017 Campus Outreach Coordinator, OCE

Sofía Márquez Syracuse University, B.A. 2010 Production Assistant, OCE

Special thanks to the Veterans Affairs offices in Syracuse and in San Juan Puerto Rico, the Syracuse Veterans Hospital, Fort Buchanan in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, the Latino Professional Network of Syracuse, and all the US Veterans and their families who so generously contributed to make this program a success at La Casita.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY WAS PRODUCED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ONONDAGA COUNTY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH COMMITTEE