2021 NATIONAL ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH

MARADMINS : 235/21

R 291500Z APR 21 MARADMIN 235/21 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP// SUBJ/2021 NATIONAL ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH// REF/A/PUBLIC LAW 102-450/23OCT1992// REF/B/ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH/ASIANPACIFICHERITAGE.GOV// REF/C/BIOGRAPHY/MAJGEN WILLIAM H. SEELY III// REF/D/USMC ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN (APA) PROFESSIONALS/USMCAPAPROFESSIONALS.COM// REF/E/ALMAR 023/20// POC/A. QUINONES/SGT/CMC (MPE)/TEL: COM 703-784-9371/DSN 287/EMAIL: ANTHONY.QUINONES@USMC.MIL// POC/J. R. DECLOUX/MAJ/CMC (MPE)/TEL: COM 703-784-9371/DSN/278/EMAIL: JESSICA.DECLOUX@USMC.MIL// POC/T. M. VELAZQUEZ/CIV/MRA (MPE)/TEL: COM 703-784-9371/TEL: DSN 278/EMAIL: THERESA.VELAZQUEZ@USMC.MIL// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Each May, our Nation takes the opportunity to reflect upon the past and ongoing contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) bring to the success and growth of our Nation. The origin of AAPI Heritage Month dates back to the 95th Congress (1977-1978) when five joint resolutions were introduced proposing that a week in May be designated to commemorate the accomplishments of the AAPI community. On 23 October 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450 which permanently designated May of each year as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.” The 2021 observance theme is: “Advancing Leaders.” 2. Major General William H. Seely III is the first Vietnamese-American general in the Marine Corps and currently our highest ranking general officer in service who is of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage. MajGen Seely was born in Saigon, Vietnam and graduated from The Basic School in 1989. He subsequently trained to become a Communications Officer and later, as a First Lieutenant, made a lateral move to the Intelligence Occupational Field. MajGen Seely currently serves as the 35th Commandant of the Joint Forces Staff College at National Defense University, Washington, DC. 3. During mid-March 2021, the USMC Asian Pacific American (APA) Professionals group convened the second annual USMC APA Professionals Leadership Seminar. The two-day virtual seminar gathered Marine Corps personnel interested in developing their individual career competitiveness, discovering professional opportunities, and advancing the APA community within the Marine Corps. Visit usmcapaprofessionals.com for enrollment, peer mentoring, and future event information. There is no fee to join USMC APA Professionals. 4. For Asian and Pacific American heritage, Medal of Honor recipients, and U.S. military history, visit the Library of the Marine Corps (grc-usmcu.libguides.com/library-of-the-marine-corps) or select a book from the Commandant’s Professional Reading list (grc-usmcu.libguides.com/usmc-reading-list). To learn about how you can continue to advance your leadership, read, “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action,” by Simon Sinek. 5. During this observance month, commanders are encouraged to recognize and celebrate the invaluable service and selfless contributions Asian and Pacific Americans - military, veteran, and civilian - give to our country and Corps. Commanders are further encouraged to conduct online programs and to promote remote participation in observance events within their commands and across their local communities where onsite activities are not feasible during COVID-19 restrictions. 6. Release authorized by BGen J. G. Woodworth, Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division.//