As part of their Latino Heritage Month celebration, the Bears are collaborating with Adam Belmares, a University of Illinois-Chicago communications major who lives in the Chicagoland area, on a series of stories that will be featured on ChicagoBears.com. For his second piece, Belmares documents his experience at the Bears' Latino Heritage Month game last Monday night at Soldier Field.

As more generations of Latinos grow up in the United States, many families have experienced the loss of language, family recipes and traditional practices within their own households – cultural elements that unintentionally fade over time.​

On Monday, I had the opportunity to witness two elements that continue to thrive across generations of Latino families in Chicago: the passion of being a Bears fan and the tremendous pride Latinos take in their heritage, regardless of generation.

Just one year ago, I attended my first Bears game, sitting in the clouds of section 436 with my football-obsessed family, to celebrate Latino Heritage Month and watch the Bears battle the Cowboys. I was born in Wichita, Ks., so my family has strong ties to the Rio Grande Valley. As a result, the group was divided on which team we supported, making the experience even more personal and intense as the two NFL teams with large Latino fan bases squared off.

Little did I know that one year later, I would find myself back at Soldier Field for the Latino Heritage Month game, this time collaborating with the Bears and personally invited by the team, with seats near the end zone.

Since I was a kid playing football, I've had the dream many young athletes share: pursuing a professional career in the sports industry. My love for football comes from a lineage of athletes on my father's side, with him and two of his brothers playing football in Donna, Texas.

Through their inspiration, football became more than just a game played between lines; it became a way of life. I would wake up early to catch the morning sports debate TV shows before chasing down the school bus to make sure I got to class on time.​

Debating NFL teams, players, etc. with my classmates became my favorite part of the day. I looked forward to others challenging my opinions and giving me the chance to defend them.

After moving to the Chicagoland area from Wichita in 2018, I started caring about more than just wins and losses. I began educating myself about the storytelling side of sports and the behind-the-scenes decisions that shape what happens before, during and after the game.

After high school, I decided to pursue my bachelor's degree in communications, with aspirations of becoming a professional journalist and eventually working in a communications department for a major professional Chicago sports team.

On Monday night, the dream of working and attending a game for the organization that is essential to Chicago's heart and soul became a reality that still feels surreal.

As I entered through Soldier Field's South Courtyard, I was taken aback by the welcome: Latino-themed pillars covered in vibrant floral designs and gameday banners across the stadium celebrating Latino culture.

As I walked through the concourse that was filled with activities, I saw generations of Latinos lined up to pose in front of the Vamos Bears photo backdrop, which gave me a new perspective on what heritage means.

Heritage isn't only what we remember, but it is what people choose to preserve and pass on.

After seeing abuelos, tíos, nephews, and grandchildren standing side by side, I came away with a special appreciation for older generations who made a conscious effort to pass down what it means to be a Bears fan.

Before kickoff, I was introduced to one of my biggest inspirations since getting familiar with the Chicago sports scene: Omar Ramos, the Bears' Spanish-language radio play-by-play broadcaster. Ramos grew up with the same ganas I have: to pursue a career in the sports industry and to believe that nothing is impossible.

Since joining the Bears' broadcast team in 2015, Ramos has seen Latino community engagement and Latino Heritage Month gameday activities grow. He can recall a time when Latinos being highlighted league-wide seemed unfathomable.

"Back then, you really never heard of these kinds of [opportunities], and now, teams have been incorporating young Latino professionals that bring their ideas," Ramos said. "They bring their culture and things they can add to the experience when fans come here. It's a beautiful thing because I think we bring new knowledge to the Latino community about the rules and culture of the game and history of the Chicago Bears."

Keeping Ramos' words in mind, I arrived at my seat just before the national anthem, which was performed by Mariachi Herencia de México, a Chicago-based, two-time Latin Grammy-nominated mariachi band. The performance marked the first time in Bears history that a mariachi group performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" live on a national TV broadcast.

Once the trumpets started to sound off, a wave of emotion washed over me. My arms developed goosebumps. My eyes began to water as I heard the melody I grew up listening to at every sporting event played by instruments deeply rooted in my Mexican heritage.

As the performance went on, the Soldier Field crowd started to engage, their voices growing louder and louder. The most heartfelt moment came when the song ended with a roar on the trumpets' final note and powerful applause from the 60,000-plus fans in attendance.

That's when it hit me.

All the sacrifices of my Mexican-descent grandparents, who were migrants working in the fields in Texas and Michigan to set up a better life full of opportunities for my generation, had led up to that moment. The performance was truly the fruit of the labor of past generations of Latinos around the world.

Throughout the game, the vibrant floral designs and a calavera-inspired Bears graphic appeared on the videoboards, highlighting every first down and fan interaction.

The graphic that read "From the echoes of our ancestors to the pulse of the city" made me realize why I began to develop a different kind of respect for Latino Bears fans after moving to the Chicagoland area.

Latino-owned bars and restaurants in Pilsen, Cicero, Little Village and other Latino-populated neighborhoods and suburbs put together Bears game watch parties that have become newly shared traditions among different generations of Latino fans.

As someone who has attended these watch parties, I can tell you Chicago's love for the Bears cannot be explained through words alone, but through experiences. To me, the graphic reminded me not only to preserve and remember my ancestors' history, but to carry their culture forward and embark on new traditions. That is what keeps the city of Chicago alive and thriving.

One of my most anticipated moments Monday night was seeing Luis Sanchez, the first Mexican-American in-stadium host at a Bears game, on Soldier Field's biggest screen, doing what he does best: being himself.

Sanchez attended the University of Illinois-Chicago – like I am now – which allowed him to keep building his connection to the city and its communities. Sanchez's father encouraged him to help create a space for Latinos and show that we belong in these industries and on these stages.

"I hope that people from all generations and different backgrounds were able to see themselves in me when they saw me on that jumbotron," Sanchez said. "For the longest time, Latinos have been underrepresented in sports, especially in the spaces where decisions are made and where you see people on the field and on the stage. I truly believe that needs to change. Our raza is incredibly talented, and when we're given the opportunity, we can shine."

Sanchez's attempt to inspire other Latinos has impacted me exactly as he intended. As a current UIC communications student, seeing a Flames alum and fellow Mexican-American make history reassured me that I am heading in the right direction. Through continued hard work, dedication and consistency, future opportunities will arise, and I will be prepared to shine, just as Sanchez was.

Another special moment came during a timeout when the Bears recognized high school students Alison Segarra and Alejandro Gonzalez as the 2026 Latino Heritage Month Youth Leaders for their dedication to their athletic and academic careers while staying involved in their Latino communities.

Seeing younger Latinos highlighted in front of thousands of fans gave me hope that, when given the opportunity, organizations like the Bears will continue to highlight local talent and inspire the next generation of Latinos to work hard in and out of the classroom so they can succeed in their future careers.

During halftime, a show led by several performers, including Sandra Delgado and Luis Alfredo, featuring Columbia College's Mi Gente Latin Dance Club and Team served as a musical journey that incorporated a variety of Latino traditional dance styles such as cumbia and salsa.

Toward the end of the performance, the transition from "Oye" to Alfredo's performance of "Sweet Home Chicago" gave the Soldier Field crowd the best of both worlds: a traditional Latino piece and an iconic Chicago song.

Another touching moment came when members of the dance club held the flags of Latin American countries, signifying unity among all Latinos and spreading a "Somos Iguales" message to a sold-out Soldier Field.

One of my favorite touches of the night came when thousands of fans sang the team's iconic "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" fight song after every scoring drive. I really appreciated seeing the song's lyrics in Spanish on the ribbon board displays.

Though it may be a small detail to some, it was thoughtful and allowed monolingual Spanish speakers to better understand the Bears' traditions and become active fans in the crowd.

A dominant 27-7 Bears win, led by Case Keenum and a suffocating defense, was the perfect way to cap off the Latino Heritage Month game. By the end of the game, my voice was shot from all the chanting and celebrating I had done throughout the victory.

When I looked up at the "Bears Win" graphic on the videoboards, I felt a sense of deja vu, but this time, I felt much more connected to the team than I did last year. After taking one last look at Soldier Field before exiting my section, I realized that I am a Latino who has broken a barrier.

Being a third-generation Mexican-American is my superpower. With that pride comes the responsibility to honor the sacrifices of my family who came before me and carry forward the opportunities their blood, sweat, and tears.

After the game, I met with my parents and siblings, who freed up their schedules to attend and support my milestone of working with the Bears, in front of the Vamos Bears backdrop in the South Courtyard. Listening to my parents say how proud they were of me is a moment I will carry with me forever.

For many Latino families, the pressure to make your parents proud while pursuing a career they are willing to support can be challenging, with little reassurance about whether you are doing the right thing. The experience was a true full-circle moment for me, and having my support system at the game meant everything.

I am incredibly honored to have been invited not only to the Bears' Latino Heritage Month game, but also to document my experience for the team. I left Soldier Field more motivated than ever to use my Latino heritage as a tool and help other Latinos excel in the fields they aspire to enter.