JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Joint Base Langley-Eustis celebrated Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders’ contributions to the nation during the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month observance at Fort Eustis, May 29, 2018.
Established by congressional proclamation, the observance began as Asian Heritage Week in 1979 and was expanded to a month-long celebration in May 1990. In October 1992, President George W. Bush signed legislation designating May of each year as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
This year’s theme, “Unite Our Vision by Working Together,” features a poster with a central eye, which indicates the collective vision of Asians and Pacific Islanders, according to the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. The cogs’ arrangement on the poster symbolizes more than 56 ethnic groups from Asia and the Pacific Islands working together.
During his welcoming remarks, Paul Hilton, Training and Doctrine Command assistant deputy chief of staff, said this is an especially fitting theme in today’s Army and in today’s world.
“It is imperative for us to continue holding these types of observances so that we can inform and educate each other about the many different cultures in today’s global society,” said Hilton. “Our strength comes from our freedom and the leadership to maintain that freedom, but our strength also comes from our ancestral cultures, our willingness to learn and work with people of different faiths, different ethnic backgrounds and different native languages.”
Serving as guest speaker for the event, Manolita Holadia, attorney and Asian Business Association of Hampton Roads director, spoke about language barriers as an obstacle facing Asian Americans when trying to assimilate into new cultures.
Holadia said some individuals decide to start their own businesses when they are unable to find jobs. For example, about 15 percent of the 522,000 Asian Americans residing in Virginia own their own businesses, such as restaurants, grocery and retail stores, she said.
During her remarks, Holadia asked attendees to reach over to the person sitting next to them and shake their hand.
“Let’s embrace our differences now,” said Holadia. “The next time you walk into a hotel, restaurant or any business, and maybe you don’t understand the English that they’re speaking or maybe their name is long—just be still, take a breath and try to learn about the person. You’ll find out that you may have something in common.”