Hispanic and Latino parents should tell their children about these unsung heroes who changed the world, bein time for the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. 

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15 every year. This is an annual celebration in the U.S. held every year to recognize the contributions of Hispanics and Latinos in the country. 

It is very interesting to know the reason behind the date of the celebration. There are questions like why the Hispanic Heritage Month starts from September 15 and not during the first day of the month. 

It is because, Sep.15 to Oct. 15 coincides with the independence day celebration of some Latin American countries and these are Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Chile, and Belize. 

Moreover, Hispanic and Latino children must know these unsung Hispanic heroes who made positive changes in the United States. Here are some of them:

1. Octaviano Larrazolo - 1st Elected Hispanic U.S. Senator 

Octaviano Larrazolo was born in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. He arrived in Arizona together with Reverend J.B. Salpointe in 1875 who taught him theology. 

He first taught in Tucson for about a year before he joined politics in New Mexico's Democratic Party. In 1918, he was elected as the state governor.

In 1928, he was elected in the U.S. Senate making him the first Hispanic senator in the country. Unfortunately, he fell ill and died six months after he took his office. 

2. Sylvia Mendez - Paved the Way for School Desegregation in the U.S. 

Sylvia Mendez was born in a time when Hispanics were sent to "Mexican Schools" and are not allowed to attend schools intended for "Whites Only."

Sylvia's aunt wished for her is to attend a White School because they have better access to books. However, her aunt was told that lighter-skinned children could attend but Hispanics with darker skin like Sylvia could not. 

Her parents sued the California Public School System after Sylvia's enrollment to a White School was denied. It took years of litigation.

Years after, they won the case and it let her enroll in a "Whites Only" school. She was the first Hispanic who has a darker skin to enroll in a school intended for the Whites. This paved a way for school desegregation in the U.S.

3. Hector P. Garcia - Helped Bring Recognition to Hispanic World War II Veterans 

Hector P. Garcia has served the U.S. Army during World War II and he has earned six Bronze Stars for his efforts in the military. 

One of his fellow armies Felix Longoria was killed by a Japanese sniper in 1945 in the Philippines. Longoria's body was returned to Three Rivers, Texas where his family asked to use a funeral chapel in the town. 

However, the funeral director told Longoria's family that the Whites won't like it if the service will be held in the chapel. 

Garcia then lobbied this issue to the then-President Lyndon B. Johnson who helped them. And because of Garcia's efforts, Longoria was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.

4. Dolores Huerta - Co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union 

Dolores Huerta founded the Agricultural Workers Association in 1960 where she lobbied to politicians to provide pensions and public assistance for non-migrant workers. 

She also co-founded the National Farm Workers Association alongside Cesar Chavez and Gilberto Padilla. 

In 1965, she merged the AWA and the NFWA to establish the United Farm Workers. This group went into a famous strike that led 26 companies to agree to improve the working conditions. 

5. Juan Felipe Herrera - First Chicano Poet Laureate 

Juan Felipe Herrera came from migrant workers who traveled throughout California and oftentimes they lived in the tent. 

When they eventually settled in San Diego, Herrera graduated from High School and received a scholarship to UCLA. 

He earned his master's degree from Stanford and an MFA from the renowned Iowa Writer's Workshop. In 2015, Herrera was named poet laureate, one of literature's most distinctive honors and was the first Chicano to receive the award.