A new group wants to give Oak Harbor residents a chance to experience some Latin flavor — in more ways than one.
The Oak Harbor Hispanic Heritage Committee is a newly formed organization of active duty and reserve sailors and Marines at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The group formed approximately two months ago and is 29 members strong so far.
“Within the Fleet Readiness Center there are lots of different clubs and there is a Multi-Cultural Association, but we had different ideas,” said Logistics Specialist First Class Pamela Velez. “We wanted to open it up to anybody who wants to be a part of it.”
“We wanted this to be an opportunity to show our culture to the community,” agreed Personnel Specialist Second Class Silvia Soukchareun.
Members immediately went to work raising money by holding a car wash and a yard sale for the group’s first event — sponsoring a Latino band to perform in Oak Harbor in celebration of national Hispanic Heritage Month.
The winning group is The Coffee Band, a nine-piece band from Seattle, who will perform from 7 p.m. to midnight at Mi Pueblo Mexican Restaurant and Lounge on Bayshore Drive. There is no cover charge to attend this 21-and-older event, and the community can enjoy a taste of Latin music and Latin food, if they choose.
A lack of Latino bands on the island prompted the group to start looking for a band they could bring to town.
“I go out of town about once a month to go Salsa dancing,” said Logistics Specialist Second Class Kim Yaska. “I’d like to be able to do that here in Oak Harbor.”
Members of the band look at it as an opportunity to share their music with a new audience.
“We’re hoping people like us, that they have fun and they remember us,” said singer Salvador Benavides.
“The goal is to make this a community event, to bring anybody who wants to come out and enjoy it,” said Logistics Specialist Second Class Eric Painter.
Hidden benefits
Besides having a common goal to work for by raising money for Saturday’s event, members of O3HC, as they call it, say there’s been an added benefit to forming their group.
“When you have people around you that you can relate to, it makes your experience better,” Velez said. “It gives you that extra something.”
“I like how we came together,” said Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class Cristobal Rodriguez. “Once we came together it was like friends.”
“The relationship (with each other) before was just work,” said Soukchareun. “Now we have something to talk about.”
Even within the Hispanic community, there can be differences. The new group is about learning about each other in addition to sharing Latino culture with the community.
“We each have different dialects, we like different foods,” Velez said. “But now we’re able to reach out and discover we might have similar stories. For most of us, our families are far away, so this brings us together.”
Group members give special credit to their mentor, Chief Nivardo Mendoza, who gave them ideas on how to proceed once they decided to start O3HC. Members say even if only their group turns out Saturday night, the event will be a success.
Never the less, members will decorate the restaurant with flags from all Spanish-speaking countries, and there will be a cake to help celebrate their first organized event. If all goes well, O3HC hopes to hold future events on a quarterly basis.
Most of all, club members want to thank the Oak Harbor area community for its support.
“Whether they’re military or not, I think Oak Harbor will be very supportive,” said Velez.
“We’d like to thank the community,” agreed Painter. “All the funds come from the community — so they’re all invited.”
Get involved:
The Oak Harbor Hispanic Heritage Committee currently meets on base each Wednesday at 11 a.m. Membership is open to anyone in the community who wishes to join. Those with questions should email O3HC@ymail.com.
