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Soldiers, civilians and family members from the KMC celebrated Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month May 28 in the Kaiserslautern Community Activities Center in order to continue a tradition that goes back at least a century.
The 21st Theater Sustainment Command hosted this year’s event by arranging an event-filled ceremony that displayed a wide variety of events ranging from dances, martial arts and even a ukulele concert from several local organizations around the Army and Air Force community.
Linda Pangilinan, from the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern Civilian Personnel Advisory Center, and Master Sgt. Garrett K. Gardner, 21st TSC equal opportunity adviser, helped welcome all the guests and participants to the event.
“If one thing we have learned from the lessons of the past is that color, race, gender, cannot be used as a gauge or discriminator when predicting honor, dedication and service,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Micheal Clowser, senior enlisted adviser to the Falcon Observer Controller Team, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, in Hohenfels, Germany.
Performances were given by the Ukulele Boys, Michele Camacho, the Thai Dancers and a martial arts demonstration was given by the 435th Morale Welfare and Readiness youth programs.
“This event lets the military community know that we are filled with diverse culture,” said Ms. Pangilinan about the importance of holding this kind of event.
The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.
President George H.W. Bush signed an extension making the week-long celebration into a month-long celebration. In 1992, the official designation of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law.
Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated in May to commemorate the contributions of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States.
