R 252006Z APR 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 222/13
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/MPE//
SUBJ/2013 ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH//
POC/M. J. SHEPPARD/CIV/UNIT: MPE/-/TEL: (703)784-9371/TEL: DSN 278-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER 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 AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH. MAY WAS CHOSEN TO COMMEMORATE THE IMMIGRATION OF THE FIRST JAPANESE TO THE UNITED STATES ON 7 MAY 1843 AND TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPLETION OF THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD ON 10 MAY 1869. THE 2013 THEME IS "BUILDING LEADERSHIP: EMBRACING CULTURAL VALUES AND INCLUSION." ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR NATION TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE IN SUCH A DIVERSE CULTURE.
2. ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE GROWTH OF AMERICA IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS. FROM THE ARRIVAL OF CHINESE AND FILIPINO IMMIGRANTS DURING THE EARLY 18TH CENTURY THROUGH TODAY, ASIAN AMERICANS CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NATION.
3. THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO DEFEND AND PROTECT OUR NATION AND LIBERTY. THE DEDICATION AND VALOR OF ASIAN AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN CAN BE TRACED IN EVERY AMERICAN BATTLE SINCE THE CIVIL WAR: LIKE ALL MARINES, ASIAN AMERICANS BRING THEIR HARD WORK, FAMILY SOLIDARITY, DISCIPLINE, AND HIGHLY VALUED EDUCATION THAT ENHANCE OUR CORPS' WARFIGHTING CAPABILITIES IN MANY AREAS TO INCLUDE MILITARY, DIPLOMATIC, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
4. ASIAN 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 AMERICANS HAVE PLAYED IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
5. ONE OF AMERICA'S GREATEST STRENGTHS IS IN THE HEART OF ITS PEOPLE AND THE RICHNESS OF ITS DIVERSITY. BY RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ASIAN AMERICANS, OUR NATION CELEBRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
6. DURING ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE DEDICATED SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN 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.//