R 282145Z MAR 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 200/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//
SUBJ/2011 ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH//
POC/R. P. TAYLOR/CAPT/CMC (MPE)/-/TEL: DSN 278-9371/TEL: COMM (703)784-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH WAS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED AS PACIFIC/ASIAN HERITAGE WEEK BY CONGRESSMEN FRANK HORTON AND NORMAN MINETA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN JULY 1977. ON 23 OCTOBER 1992, THE 102ND CONGRESS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED PUBLIC LAW 102-450, DESIGNATING MAY AS ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. THE 2011 THEME IS "LEADERSHIP, DIVERSITY, EMPOWERMENT, AND BEYOND."
2. ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATES AND PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS GENERATIONS OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS HAVE MADE TO AMERICA BY ENHANCING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND HELPING TO DETERMINE THE COURSE OF OUR NATION'S FUTURE. THUS, DURING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, WE HONOR THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS CITIZENS OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLAND ANCESTRY HAVE MADE TO OUR NATION.
3. BRINGING WITH THEM A RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE TO OUR SOCIETY, ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS REPRESENT MANY LANGUAGES, ETHNICITIES, AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS. THROUGH THIS RICH AND STORIED CULTURAL DIVERSITY, ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS COUNTRY'S PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY IN GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ARTS, AND SPORTS. THE FABRIC OF AMERICA'S MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY IS STRONGER DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE THAT ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS HAVE PLAYED IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
4. THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO DEFEND AND PROTECT OUR NATION AND LIBERTY. PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE MAJOR KURT CHEW-EEN LEE WHO HOLDS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST REGULAR MARINE CORPS OFFICER OF ASIAN DESCENT. PRESENT DAY WARRIORS INCLUDE LCPL VICTOR LU WHO WAS KILLED NOVEMBER 13, 2004 IN IRAQ AFTER TAKING FIRE DURING THE US-LED CAMPAIGN TO SECURE THE INSURGENT STRONGHOLD ON FALLUJAH AND COL DANIEL YOO WHO WILL BECOME THE FIRST KOREAN AMERICAN GENERAL IN THE MARINE CORPS BUT IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.
5. ONE OF AMERICA'S GREATEST STRENGTHS IS IN THE HEART OF ITS PEOPLE AND THE RICHNESS OF ITS DIVERSITY; WE MUST UNDERSTAND MARINES TO LEAD MARINES. BY RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS, OUR NATION CELEBRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
6. DURING ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE DEDICATED SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, TO OUR COUNTRY AND CORPS. COMMANDERS ARE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN OBSERVANCE EVENTS AT THEIR COMMANDS AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
7. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//