FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Michelle Dean

EMAIL: info@rnha.org

October 12, 2009

RNHA Celebrates Columbus Day

Lakeland, Florida – The Republican National Hispanic Assembly (RNHA) celebrates the 517th anniversary
of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas. Columbus Day was first celebrated in New York City in
1792, commemorating the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ historic arrival. Colorado was the first state
to recognize it as a holiday in 1905; in 1937 October 12 was proclaimed "Columbus Day". President
Richard Nixon, in 1971, declared the second Monday of October a national holiday.

RNHA National Chairman Alci Maldonado released the following statement, “This holiday is called many
different things, Día de la Raza in Latin America, Día de la Resistencia Indígena in Venezuela, and
Discoverer’s Day in Hawaii. Regardless of what you may call this day, it is significant in celebrating the
fortitude of exploration. The RNHA joins the nation in celebrating the pioneering spirit of Christopher
Columbus and the impact his voyage had in bringing European culture, goods, religion and practices to
the New World. Let us not forget that although Christopher Columbus was Italian, it was the Spanish
King Ferdinand who believed in Columbus’ vision and thus subsidized this historic journey. ”

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The mission of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly is to build a membership organization to foster the principles of the
Republican Party in the Hispanic community, provide Hispanic Americans with a forum to play an influential role in local, state, and
national Party activities, increase the number of Hispanic Republican elected officials, and create and maintain a network of
Hispanic Republican leaders.

Paid for by the Republican National Hispanic Assembly. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

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