Team APG hosts Asian American and Pacific Islander Month Observance

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (May 31, 2016) -- The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, or ATEC, hosted Team Aberdeen Proving Ground's, or APG, Asian American and Pacific Islander, or AAPI, Heritage Month observance at APG's Recreation Center May 26.

The guest speaker for the observance was the Director of the Joint and Integration Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, Brig. Gen. Viet X. Luong, with the theme of 'Walk Together, Embrace Difference and Build Legacies'.

ATEC's Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew B. Connette began the observance by welcoming and thanking the audience for attending.

"I've had a great honor of serving alongside many AAPI through my career and have always admired their culture and the values they bring," said Connette. "They simply inspire me to be a better person."

The Master of Ceremonies, Mohammad Rahman, division chief at the U.S. Army Evaluation Center, explained the importance of APG's AAPI observance. "We are celebrating traditions, ancestry, native language, and unique experiences represented among more than 56 ethnic groups, speaking over 100 languages from Asian and Pacific Islands who live here in the United States."

Rahman, of Bangladeshi descent, stated the AAPI continue to make many outstanding contributions in sciences, education, arts and sports.

"These many achievements have added to the success and prosperity of our country, but most notable, are our AAPI who have courageously answered and continue to answer the call to defend our freedom as members of our military and civilian workforce," said Rahman.

ATEC's Equal Employment Opportunity Manager and Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention Specialist, Jody Jackson, and Pacific Edge's November Jackson and Salofi Jackson presented a slideshow on "Liberty and Freedom for All -- AAPI Everyday Heroes You May Not Know," that recognized a few "every day heroes" within the Department of Defense.

Luong is one of those "every day heroes."

The U.S. Army APG Garrison commander, Col. James Davis, welcomed Luong and thanked him and his family for their service and attendance at the observance.

"As a young boy, Gen. Luong aspired to be in the military and those aspirations have taken him a long way," said Davis. "As a U.S. Army Brigadier General, he is the first U.S. Army General Officer of Vietnamese descent."

Luong shared personal stories to include struggles and challenges that he and his family faced over the years and how they overcame them to become the people they are today. "Our success was predicated by many factors… but truly rested on a single fact and that's being American."

"Being American means that you were afforded the opportunity to embrace the wondrous privileges given to us by a constitution and realize an immense dream," said Luong. "These stories only happen in America… and I'm an American by choice, not by birth and I chose to serve our great nation."

Luong recalled stories from his time in the service and spoke about some of the brave Soldiers he served with over the years.

"The first thing I ask you [audience] to walk away with is while it's important to celebrate these ethnic observances and embrace diversity and all the great things that go along with, it's also important to love our nation and our ideas above all else," said Luong. "The second thing is to continue to take good care of our men and our women, our most precious resources."

Luong thanked the audience for attending the observance. "I'm proud to be Vietnamese and Asian American, but I'm also proud to be an American."

An educational dance was performed by Pacific Edge to educate the audience on the Samoan arts and culture. The Samoan culture is unique in the sense that the songs and dances depict who they are in the eye of the world.

In closing remarks, ATEC's commanding general, Maj. Gen. Daniel L. Karbler, briefly spoke about his experiences in the Asian Pacific Region.

"When I was in Samoa for four days, I was exposed to a culture of family, beauty, and traditions," said Karbler. "Had I not had that opportunity, I would have never known the Samoan contributions to our Asian Pacific heritage."

Karbler presented Luong with a "thank you" gift on behalf of Team APG for joining in on celebrating the observance.

Followed by the closing remarks, the audience was encouraged to join Team APG in AAPI ethnic food tasting and visual displays.

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