The Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory, Bernardo de Gálvez is an unsung hero who greatly contributed to the winning of the American Revolution. General Gálvez launched brilliant campaigns against the British in Louisiana and West Florida by organizing a military force of regular troops, militia, volunteers, and a few Americans. His victories prevented the British from gaining access to the strategically located Mississippi River Valley. The city of Galveston, TX, is named in his honor.

After centuries of Spanish rule, many colonies began to seek independence from Spain in the early 19th century. Influenced by the Enlightenment and desiring self-rule, revolutions spread across Central and South America. Known as El Libertador (the Liberator), Simón Bolívar (1783-1830), was considered one of the greatest military figures in South American history. His victories brought independence to six present-day nations; Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Venezuela.

Born in 1788 in Cuba, Padre Félix Varela quickly distinguished himself as a great educator. Varela did something unusual for his time - he taught and defended the principle of giving women the same education as men. In the early 1820s, Padre Félix Varela helped poor minorities living in New York City, founding nurseries and orphanages for the children of poor widows, as well as the first Spanish newspaper in the US. He was named Vicar General of the New York diocese of the Roman Catholic Church.

In the early 19th c., Mexicans were discussing how to revolt against Spain. Father Hidalgo, the leader of a revolutionary group, heard that the government had ordered his arrest. In response, he rang the church bell on the night of Sept. 15, 1810, calling his congregation to church. When the people arrived, he gave a speech now called Grito de Dolores. In it he said, “Viva Mexico!” and “Viva la independencia!”; words still remembered and repeated at Mexican Independence Day celebrations.

Cinco de Mayo marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. On that day during the French occupation of Mexico, General Zaragoza and his troops were victorious over the greatest military power in the world at that time. Mexicans' pride, nationalism, and determination to defend Mexico’s sovereignty were boosted. The phrase “Viva el Cinco de Mayo!” inspired increasing numbers of Mexicans to aid their country during the war lasting from 1863 to 1867.

Admiral David G. Farragut was a naval commander for the North during the Civil War. His father, a Spaniard, came to America in 1776 and fought for the US during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, Navy Captain Farragut moved his family north to Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. In 1862 he was chosen to command a fifty-ship expedition to capture New Orleans. His success earned him a place as one of America’s most celebrated Civil War heroes.

After Puerto Ricans began to press for independence, Spain, in 1897, granted the island broad powers of self-government. During the Spanish-American War of 1898, American troops invaded the island, and Spain ceded it to the US. Puerto Rico remains an unincorporated US territory. Puerto Ricans were granted American citizenship in 1917; were permitted to elect a governor, beginning in 1948; and now fully administer their internal affairs under a constitution approved by the US Congress in 1952.

Best known for striking self-portraits, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo was influenced by pre-Columbian art and Mexican folk art. Her works embody the pride of Mexico’s national patriotic movement, called Mexicanidad, that pulsed throughout the country following the Mexican Revolution of the early 20th century. This sense of Mexican patriotism in Kahlo’s work has influenced Chicana artists in the US. Since the mid-70s, she has been a role model in the Mexican-American and feminist communities.

One of Puerto Rico’s most celebrated poets, Julia de Burgos was honored with a stamp in the Literary Arts series in 2010. A revolutionary writer, thinker, and activist, de Burgos wrote more than 200 poems that probe issues of love, feminism, and political and personal freedom.

In 1945, Hispanic parents in CA filed suit to end school segregation. The ground-breaking case, Mendez v. Westminster School District, was decided in 1947 when the court ruled that school districts could not segregate on the basis of national origin. The decision set an important, precedent for cases in other states and nationally. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, declaring segregation illegal nationwide, based in part on a brief from Mendez.

Cuban bandleader and actor Desi Arnaz, born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz III, fled his native Santiago, Cuba, with his family after a revolution in 1933. Establishing himself as a successful band leader, he was offered a role in the 1939 Broadway musical "Too Many Girls". He met his future wife Lucille Ball there. In 1949, Ball and Arnaz co-founded Desilu Productions to run "I Love Lucy", a television comedy series that ran for six years on CBS becoming the most successful TV program in history.

Ruben Salazar was born on March 3, 1928, in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and raised in El Paso, Texas. He was the first Mexican-American journalist to have a major voice in American mainstream news media. In 1965 Salazar became a foreign correspondent, reporting from the Dominican Republic and South Vietnam prior to becoming chief of the Los Angeles Times Mexico City bureau. In 1970, Salazar was killed while covering the National Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War in Chicago.

Cesar E. Chavez was the founder of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO (UFW). A tireless advocate for nonviolent social change, he dedicated his life to service for others. For more than 30 years he led the first successful farm workers union in the US, achieving dignity, respect, fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits, and humane living conditions for hundreds of thousands of farm workers. His efforts led to the passage of the 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act.

Proud of his Hispanic and African-American roots, Roberto Clemente relied on his upbringing to weather incidents of racial prejudice. He said, “I don’t believe in color, I believe in people. My mother and father taught me never to hate someone because of their color.” Clemente was known for his zeal and passion for his sport, his inclusive attitude, and his devotion to serving the poor. In 1972 he died tragically in an airplane crash while delivering supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

For decades, the Latin sound has influenced American music and culture. Five of these legendary musicians and performers were honored in 2011 including Tito Puente, Carmen Miranda, Selena, Carlos Gardel, and Celia Cruz. Together these artists represent a variety of styles and genres including Tejano, tango, samba, Latin jazz, and salsa.

Today, Hispanic Americans continue the tradition of serving with distinction begun more than two centuries ago. Over three dozen Hispanic Americans have received the highest decoration our nation can bestow - the Medal of Honor. The legacy and achievements of the Hispanic community are an important part of the heritage of the United States.

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum is dedicated to the preservation, study, and presentation of postal history and philately. The museum uses exhibitions, educational public programs, and research to make this rich history available to scholars, philatelists, collectors, and visitors from around the world. If you love stories like this, visit the National Postal Museum in-person, in Washington, DC; or online, by clicking the Find out more link below.