Community to celebrate Asian-American, Pacific Islander culture at May 17 event

FORT LEE, Va. — The community is invited to an Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month observance set for May 17 at the Lee Theater. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

Under the theme of “Unite Our Vision by Working Together,” the free event will be held from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The 23rd Quartermaster Brigade is the co-host, partnering with the Fort Lee Equal Opportunity Office.

The event’s guest speaker is Dr. Francis H. Dong, a former officer in the Army who has become an active consultant in business management, executive and adult education, training and development and military-to-civilian transition. His areas of expertise include finance, international business, management, strategic planning and public policy.

 After completing ROTC as a Distinguished Military Graduate, Dong’s Army career included service with the 1st Cavalry Division and subsequently with the American Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand; the Army General Staff; the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He graduated from the Defense Language Institute (outstanding graduate), the Army Command and General Staff College (commandant’s list), and the Royal Thai Army Command and General Staff College.

Another part of the program will feature Soldiers from the QM Brigade who will introduce their heritage and explain what it means to be an Asian-American or Pacific Islander. Additionally, there will be several performances: hula dancing, Muay Thai fight demonstration and Samoan cultural war dances.

The event and the month of May is a time to celebrate the contributions of Asian- and Pacific-Americans to U.S. history and its culture. Their impact to this nation, particularly in the area of military service, cannot be overstated.

 “Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have played an integral role in the advancement of American culture since the 1800s,” said Capt. Todd Williams, commander of Mike Company, 266th Quartermaster Battalion. “The vast diversity of these cultural groups helped pave the way to today’s practices in agriculture, industry, trade, fashion and the military, among others. It is important that we celebrate the Asian-American and Pacific Islander culture because they truly embody what makes America a melting pot, rich with culture and diversity that blend together and enhance our way of life.”

Those attending the annual observance can sample Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Samoan cuisine.

In 1978, Congress passed a joint resolution to commemorate Asian-American Heritage Week during the first 10 days of May. The date was chosen because Japanese immigrants arrived in America on May 7, 1843, and the transcontinental railroad was completed by Chinese laborers on May 10, 1869. In May 1990, Congress voted to expand it to a monthlong celebration.

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