IT ’S amazing to think how much the Puerto Rican community has accomplished here in our hometown. We’ve left an indelible mark on New York City, and as we embark on tomorrow’s festivities, we should draw strength from the legacy of our accomplishments.

Our history stretches back centuries, as a Puerto Rican nation emerged from a fascinating and complicated mix of native Indians, Africans and Europeans. Spanish culture, mixed with African rhythmic and religious traditions and layered with other influences, both from other Caribbean islands and the rest of the Americas, combined to form a rich culture uniquely its own.

Through the middle of the 20th century, an exodus of Puerto Ricans, victims of difficult economic times looking for new opportunities, moved to New York and transformed the city ’s and nation ’s culture forever.

We developed the salsa that pulses from stereos from Los Angeles to Caracas. We created a market for Spanish-language and Latino-themed film, television, radio and publications. We pioneered bodegas. We fought for bilingual education. We fought for the right to play our sports in the public parks while our artists pushed boundaries to show-case their talents in ways no Latinos had done before.

And, of course, we created a political movement that has been felt in all five of New York ’s boroughs.

Many Boricuas can still remember what it was like to leave our homeland out of economic necessity and arrive in a new and unfamiliar land with a strange language and different customs. That experience and those memories have helped develop in us a political philosophy of generosity, activism, hard work, and responsibility, both personal and societal.

Today, New York is in no small part a Latino town. Latinos continue to sacrifice for our community ’s future, but one can only imagine how much more difficult it would be were it not for the foundation laid down by those Puerto Rican New Yorkers who came before.

The National Puerto Rican Parade gives all New Yorkers an opportunity to pay tribute to the Puerto Rican community, its achievements and contributions, while we Puerto Ricans celebrate our place in this great city. It is a city we have changed and continue to change for the better.

Congressman José E.Serrano (D-Bronx) has represented The Bronx in Congress since 1990.  Born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, he moved to The Bronx with his parents as a young boy. Today, he is the longest-serving elected official of Puerto Rican descent in United States history.