The impact of Hispanics in the development of the United States will be the focus of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, which will kick off Monday on central campus.

National Hispanic Heritage Month started as a national day of recognition in 1979. The event was created to provide information about the contributions of Latinos to the development of the United States.

The day of recognition eventually evolved into a month, said Jerry Garcia, assistant professor of history.

The theme — “Latinos: Remaking America” — is meant to show how Hispanics are making an impact in the United States.

Latinos helped the development of the country, said David Romero, Hispanic Heritage Month Committee president.

Hispanics have contributed soldiers to every American conflict, dating back to the Revolutionary War, and their participation has been underestimated, Garcia said. In World War II, Latinos received more medals for valor than any other ethnic group, he said.

Hispanics also contributed to the development of the American West through labor on railroads and canals, he said.

More locally, Mexican laborers came to Iowa during World War II to help supply food for the state, the nation and those involved in the war, Garcia said. In the 1940s, approximately 4,000 Hispanics came into the state to help with the harvest, to complete railroads and work in manufacturing facilities.

Recently, Latinos have had better access to education and have been able to contribute to every sector of society, he said.

The month’s celebration will begin with opening ceremonies, preceded by a March of Americas. Participants will gather on the north side of the campanile and then march to the Border Crossing Statue, south of MacKay Hall. Approximately 20 of the 37 Latino countries will be represented with flags as those gathered walk across campus.

The Hispanic Heritage Planning Committee has made the celebration more inclusive and representative of all cultures.

“Many people have the conception that all Latinos are the same, but there are differences,” said Romero, junior in biology.

Michael Whiteford, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will provide the opening remarks at the kickoff event.

New faculty will be introduced at the grand ceremonies. The main speaker, John Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, administrator of the Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs, will discuss his experience with human rights in Iowa, said Yanira Pacheco-Ortiz, minority liaison and program coordinator of the college of family and consumer sciences.

The month is used to show Hispanic contribution to society, but also to create awareness and coalitions for solutions to today’s issues, both locally and nationally, Garcia said.

Other events are centered on celebrating the culture and traditions of the Hispanic people.

From 11 a.m.—1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, participants can taste a variety of cuisine at no cost during Sabor Latino, or food tasting. Several other events will feature dances such as the salsa and the merengue.

An event that has changed for this year’s festival is the Latino Film Festival, which begins Sept. 21. The films will be more comprehensive than in the past and will cover diverse issues such as gender, politics, immigration and the impact of Latino television roles, Pacheco-Ortiz said.