Fort Irwin Celebrates Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month

By Mr. Kenneth Drylie (IMCOM)June 5, 2012

Playing the Pu
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Dance
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Samoa Mo Samoa
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Taiko Drums
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Drumming
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Chinese Flying Lanterns
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lunch Time
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The National Training Center and Fort Irwin celebrated Asian-Pacific American Heritage month with activities at Jack Rabbit Park on May 30th.

Asian-Pacific encompasses the entire Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. President Jimmy Carter signed a bill establishing Asian-Pacific Heritage week in 1978. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed the official designation of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.

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 transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

The Celebration included performances by Samoa Mo Samoa dance group, Taiko Center Drum Group, and the flying of sky lanterns. There were also displays highlighting the Asian-Pacific culture and a sampling of the foods of Asian-Pacific nations.