Proud of their ethnic backgrounds

Despite not living in their native countries, several Hispanic residents of Inwood, who originally hail from Spain, the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico and South America, and some who were born here, retain a strong cultural connection to their ethnic roots.

And though they maintain that bond throughout the year, it is especially fervent during Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, which has been designated as National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Jose Grullon, owner of Fafg Repair Inc. on Sheridan Boulevard in Inwood, was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States in 1971. He lived in Brooklyn until 1992 when he moved to the Five Towns. “I love the mixed community in Inwood,” he said.

He maintains his cultural connection through the meals he eats and return trips to the Dominican Republic with his three children. “We cook Spanish food 80 percent of the time,” Grullon said. “I also take my children back home to my country. Spanish people are like a big family; it doesn’t matter where a Spanish person is from.”

Hispanic Heritage Month originally began as a one-week celebration in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson. Twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan declared it a month, beginning Sept. 15, which is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua. On Sept. 16, Mexico celebrates its independence and Chile follows on Sept. 18.

Wendy Zepeda of Inwood was born in El Salvador and has lived in the U.S. for the past 24 years. She and her husband, Juan, incorporate their Hispanic culture into everyday life with their three children. “We keep our language and culture alive and teach our kids good manners, respect and honesty,” she said. “We bring them home to our country and show them how we lived so they appreciate what they have here.”

Zepeda’s daughter, Gabriella, 12, a seventh grader at Lawrence Middle School, said she has a strong appreciation for her culture because it makes her different from everyone else. “It’s part of your life and when you grow up you follow traditions from your family and your culture,” she said. “(Hispanic Heritage Month) represents us and shows how we care about our heritage.”

Marta Rodriguez, originally from Columbia, has been in this country for the past 37 years and lived in Far Rockaway before moving to Inwood because of the strong reputation of the Lawrence School District. She sustains her Columbian culture with her two sons, ages 22 and 28, by keeping the family unified. “Kids here in America grow up and move away at a certain age but I make sure my children worry about their family and check in on them,” she said. “I want to maintain the unity.”

Rodriguez enjoys her culture and Spanish food the most. “(Hispanic Heritage Month) is about putting Latin culture together and making them stronger,” she said.

Veronica Rivera was born in El Salvador and moved to Inwood 12 years ago. She, like Rodriguez, places great importance on maintaining unity in her family. “I chose Inwood because there are a lot of Spanish people and people from my country,” she said. “I like it here.”

Rivera said Hispanic Heritage Month brings Spanish people from all cultures together. “It’s unity between all Spanish,” she said. “We remember our past and our ancestors while continuing to teach our culture to our children.”

Third grader, Jefferson Vasquez, an Inwood resident, said his family is from El Salvador and that he speaks Spanish when talking to his parents. “I like getting to speak a language that some people don’t know,” he said.

He will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by making tortillas like the ones they make in El Salvador, Vasquez said. “I will be celebrating for my family,” he said, “because I’m proud of where I came from.”