252138Z MAR 08
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 201/08
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UNCLAS
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MP DIV//
SUBJ/2008 ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH//
POC/M. D. FAMULARO/CAPT/UNIT:MPE/-/TEL:(703) 784-9371
/TEL:DSN 278-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. MAY IS DESIGNATED AS ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONTH. THE 2008 THEME IS "LEADERSHIP, DIVERSITY, HARMONY
- GATEWAY TO SUCCESS." THIS RECOGNITION WAS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED
AS PACIFIC/ASIAN HERITAGE WEEK BY CONGRESSMEN FRANK HORTON AND
NORMAN MINETA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN JUL 1977. ON 23
OCT 1992, THE 102ND CONGRESS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED PUBLIC LAW
102-450, DESIGNATING MAY AS ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
2. THIS MONTH WE CELEBRATE THE DISTINCT ETHNIC GROUPS THAT
COMPRISE THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN COMMUNITY. WHILE IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE NATIONALITIES AND ETHNICITIES THAT
COMPRISE THIS DIVERSE CULTURE, THE COMMONALITY OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION
TO THE NATION CANNOT BE OVEREMPHASIZED. ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS
HAVE MADE COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS IN MANY ASPECTS OF AMERICAN LIFE,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ARTS AND SCIENCES, GOVERNMENT,
EDUCATION, SPORTS, BUSINESS AND THE MILITARY SERVICE.
3. THE DEDICATION AND VALOR OF ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN MEN AND
WOMEN CAN BE TRACED IN EVERY AMERICAN BATTLE SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.
EXAMPLES OF THEIR SERVICE INCLUDE: THE "GO FOR BROKE" REGIMENT
WHICH WAS A JAPANESE AMERICAN ARMY UNIT THAT GALLANTLY SERVED OUR
COUNTRY DURING WWII, WHILE THEIR FAMILIES WERE PLACED IN INTERNMENT
CAMPS BACK HOME. DURING THE KOREAN WAR MAJOR BENJAMIN G. LEE AND
FIRST LIEUTENANT KURT CHEW-EEN LEE WERE AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS FOR
EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS
AGAINST AN ARMED ENEMY. IN DECEMBER 1943, SECOND LIEUTENANT WILBUR
CARL SZE BECAME THE FIRST CHINESE AMERICAN MARINE CORPS OFFICER.
4. ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS CONTINUE TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE
MARINE CORPS AND DOD. ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN MARINES BRING WITH
THEM CULTURAL TALENTS AND SKILLS THAT HAVE PROVEN VALUABLE IN
PERSONNEL AND DIPLOMATIC EVENTS, AND MOST RECENTLY THE WAR ON
TERRORISM. CURRENTLY THERE ARE OVER 6600 ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN
MARINES ACTIVE AND RESERVE WHO CONTINUE TO EMBRACE THE CORE VALUES
OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.
5. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS, MILITARY AND CIVILIAN. COMMANDERS ARE
FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN
OBSERVANCE EVENTS BOTH ON BASE AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER
PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//
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