The City of Killeen will commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month with a special celebration and reception today at 2pm at City Hall, located at 101 North College Street. The event will be held in the City Council chamber on the first floor, and all members of the community are invited to attend.

During the event, Mayor Debbie Nash-King will present an official proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month to several local organizations, including the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce–Central Texas, Sociedad Cultural Hispano-Americana, LULAC Herencia Council #4297, and the Killeen-Fort Hood LULAC Council #4535. A reception will follow in the foyer.

Observed annually from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors hail from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The observance began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.

This year’s national theme, “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future,” reflects the enduring legacy and forward-looking spirit of Hispanic and Latin American communities across the country.