Mes de la Herencia Hispana

Sharing our Stories

Parade in Brooklyn
"My name is C. F. Lunsford, and I work in the crew management center in Atlanta.  I had the pleasure of marrying into a Costa Rican family back in the 80’s and have really enjoyed their strong sense of family and faith in the Creator.

However, the most enjoyable aspect of their culture for me is the Labor Day parade. This parade is held in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Labor Day weekend and all Caribbean and Hispanics of all cultures attend. You see flags flying from Puerto Rico to Venezuela, Jamaica, Belize, Trinidad and all other island peoples.  Their dedication to culture and tradition are shown in their costumes as they parade through Brooklyn.  Attendance in the last few years has been well over one million.  So, I would like to send a shout out to all Hispanics of all cultures under the Thoroughbred umbrella.

My favorite dishes are yuca frita con chicharron and arroz con pollo y gondules."

C.F. Lunsford
Chief crew dispatcher
Atlanta

A Gift from Santa
"Many years ago, around the Christmas holiday, the Norfolk terminal at Lamberts Point would host an exhibit of G Scale models train layouts for a community open house and invite the community around the terminal. My husband and I took our four children to see the train layouts and stopped to say hello to Santa at the Christmas Caboose.

Another family who adopted two older boys from Mexico introduced their children to Santa, saying the children did not speak English. Much to our surprise, Santa began conversing in fluent Spanish with the children. The parents were quite surprised, and related they thought this would help the children in their adjustment too. It was very touching to see kindness to strangers by our employees at Lamberts Point."

Sheila Brady
Labor relations specialist
Norfolk

Living the American Dream
"My parents come from Cuba, and I consider myself a Cuban American. My wife is from the Dominican Republic.

Even though I’ve never been to Cuba where 99 percent of my family resides, we consider ourselves a close-knit family.

One of the tragedies of my culture is that there are two families who really don’t know each other. I’ve never talked to them due to many barriers, the biggest one being political.

Cubans are very festive, family-oriented and hardworking. I want to give my two kids the same upbringing, making them aware of who they are and where their family came from, eating Hispanic foods and speaking Spanish to wife so that their kids understand.

Most of all, I want others to know that we’re good people, and we want the same things they do— to achieve the American dream."

Willie Baragna
Conductor Trainee

Discovering My Own Heritage
"I didn’t know I had a Hispanic parent until I was married and had children of my own.

The Turner family adopted me just after I was born on Christmas Eve in Mobile, Ala. My adoptive mother worked in a real estate and insurance office, and was interested in adopting a baby. She was made aware of a woman who was pregnant, single and wanted a good home for her baby. My Mom and Dad met the woman, paid all her medical bills and adopted me when I was born. They even drove her home from the hospital.

I didn’t find out until many years later that my birth father was a Colombian sailor named Miguel Ortega. He visited my adoptive parents when I was about 18 months old to thank them for adopting me. Shortly after that, my birth father died when his ship sank during a hurricane. I also found out I have two siblings I have yet to meet."

Felix Turner
Special agent
NS Police
New Orleans

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