SSG Jason Vazquez Post 939 in Chicago brings community together through its first Latino Veterans & First Responders 5K Run & Walk.
When American Legion SSG Jason Vazquez Post 939 was chartered in 2021 in Chicago, its members had a very clear vision of what they wanted the post to be.
“Our goal was to promote, preserve and educate about the role that Latinos have played in the United States military,” said Post 939 Commander Marcos Torres, who led the effort to charter the post. “So many times, we serve, yet that service isn’t highlighted – even in our own communities.”
Post 939 has been able to highlight that service, first by getting Oct. 4 recognized as Latino Veterans Day, and then last weekend commemorating the day with the first Latino Veterans & First Responders 5K Run & Walk. The event took place at Hanson Stadium in Chicago and was presented by Post 939 and National Louis University.
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PHOTO 1: Members of Illinois American Legion Post 939 hosted the first Latino Veterans and First Responders 5K in honor of Latino Veterans Day at Hanson Park Stadium in Chicago. PHOTO 2: Post 939 is named for Illinois Army National Guard SSG Jason Vazquez, who was killed September 17, 2008 while serving in Gerdia Seria, Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. PHOTO 3: Members of The Chicago Police Honor Guard present the colors. PHOTO 4: Participants run the track at Hanson Park Stadium. PHOTO 5: Mickey Mouse was on hand to greet participants. PHOTO 6: Participant medals. Photos by Jim Vondruska/The American Legion
“It went extremely well,” Torres said. “We had a lot of buy-in from the community. We had a lot of buy-in from our community partners and sponsors. And people are excited for 2027. They want it to be even bigger and better.”
In addition to the run and walk, the event featured opening remarks and brought together veterans and responders – and their families – as well as community resources such as the representatives from the Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County (VACCC).
“I wanted to create an event where veterans’ service could be celebrated,” said Torres, who served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2018. “Where the family members of the servicemember could come out and do something to celebrate the family’s service.
“But also, I wanted to do something that stood out to the community, so young folks in the community could know that there are people that look like them, that come from their background, eat the same food, etc., also are serving their country. And sometimes serving their country multiple times, not only abroad but here at home.”
Torres said adding the first responder comment to the event simply made sense. “Many of our veterans are first responders,” he said. “They serve in the United States military, and then they come home and either become cops or firefighters or paramedics. Many times they choose to continue to serve their communities in multiple ways.”
A year ago, Post 939 presented a resolution to Chicago city officials asking for Oct. 4 to be designated as Latino Veterans Day. With assistance and support from Alderman Gilbert Villegas and the 36th Ward, the resolution passed by the Chicago City Council. And Post 939 wanted to capitalize on the momentum of the resolution, which led to the idea of the 5K.
Being able to make an impact on its community in just a handful of years is a source of pride within Post 939, which is named for Army National Guardsman Jason Vazquez, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2008. “It’s extremely motivating, because we knew that the veteran community was always there. It just hadn’t been tapped into in that way,” Torres said. “More importantly, we’re happy to celebrate our heritage of being United States military veterans, while also staying true to our ethnic roots. And to us, that exactly embodies what it means to be an American.”
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