FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment hosted a Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Heritage Observance on behalf of Fort Irwin at the Sandy Basin Community Center, July 30.
The event celebrated diversity within the Army, and the world, by highlighting individual contributions made by some of the Soldiers from those regions. They talked about what they do in the Army and why they do it.
"I joined the Military to prove that I can do what only one percent of the American population is doing," said Spc. Elia Dalirian, a Soldier with the 51st Tactical Interpreter Company, Regimental Sustainment Squadron, 11th ACR. "The cultural and language skills that I have allow us to better understand our allies and enemies; it helps us succeed in our mission even more."
The MENA observance focused on the cultural heritage of its countries in an effort to inform on common misconceptions.
"I wanted this event to be about the cultures without any biases," said Sgt. Hamlet Zadoorian, a Soldier assigned to the 51st TICO, RSS, 11th ACR and a coordinator of the event. "I wanted to show what these cultures, people, and Soldiers bring to the Army and the world."
Striving to make the world a better place by accepting people's differences was the main theme of the event.
"Everybody has a history and they are all fascinating," said Col. Eric Sabety, an orthopedic surgeon assigned to Fort Irwin and the event's guest speaker. "I wanted to show where I came from and my past, to show that the people from where I come from can do great things."
The Army celebrates diversity each month by highlighting people and cultures from the different backgrounds that make up our society.
"We celebrate our diversity to make us a better organization," said Col. Kevin L. Jacobi, the Commander of the 11th ACR. "Other organizations don't do that. But we do to make us better people and better brothers and sisters in arms."
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