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May is observed as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and the rest of the Department of Defense.
The month is a celebration of the achievements reached by Asian Americans and everything they have given this country. May was officially designated as AAPI heritage month in 1992 when it was signed into law.
According to Marine administrative message 208/17, the month of May
was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the trans-continental railroad on May 10, 1869. Each
year, a theme is selected to unify the celebration and remembrance around the country. The theme for this year’s AAPI Heritage Month is ‘Unite Our Voices by Speaking Together.’
Major Kurt Chew-Een Lee was the first Asian-American U. S. Marine Corps
officer. In 1950, as a lieutenant and a machine-gun platoon commander in 1st Marine Division, Major Lee distinguished himself in the midst of a blizzard in the mountains of Northeast Korea. While facing advancing Chinese troops deployed to aid North Korean forces, Lee drew enemy fire and yelled phrases in Mandarin to confuse the enemy and expose the position of Chinese units. His bravery enabled his unit to take a Chinese-occupied base despite his unit’s significantly lower numbers. During the Korean War, he received the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, and two purple hearts for his heroism.
President Jimmy Carter was the first president to designate an annual
celebration of Asian American and Pacific Is lander Heritage Week, in October 1978. Twelve years later, President George H. W. Bush signed an extension making May 1990 the first AAPI Heritage Month, changing the observance from a week to a month.
“There are more than 20 million Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. and each day through their actions, they make America more vibrant, more prosperous and more secure,” said President Donald J. Trump, in a statement about AAPI Month 2017.
During the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, commanders are encouraged to take time to recognize and celebrate the contributions AAPI’s have made to the U.S. and armed services. Commanders are further encouraged to conduct programs and promote participation in observance of events both on base and in the local community, and to develop local themes for use at their commands.
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2017 10:33 |
| Story ID: | 234454 |
| Location: | BEAUFORT, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fightertown observes Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, by SSgt Benjamin McDonald, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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