HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander culture. This year’s theme is “Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration.”
In recognition of the month at Hanscom, a committee of volunteers will host an Asian-themed food-tasting event at the base chapel May 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. All members of the base community are welcome to attend.
Col. Katrina Stephens, installation commander, signed a proclamation in the Brown Building on May 2.
“Asian American and Pacific Islanders of the United States have shown great leadership, resilience and courage in the pursuit of equity,” the proclamation read.
Air Force Materiel Command officials will celebrate diversity and highlight the importance of mentoring during an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month cross-cultural mentoring panel May 24 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The link for the ZoomGov event was sent to all AFMC personnel via internal communication channels May 3.
During a pre-recorded video message to the Hanscom community, Robert Teller, the AAPI committee lead, and Hanscom senior leaders discussed this month’s observance.
“There is no single story of their experience, but rather a diversity of contributions that enrich America’s culture and society while strengthening our Armed Forces,” he said.
Officials celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in May because it commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843.
Asian American and Pacific Islander communities is a broad term consisting of approximately 50 ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages, with connections to Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Hawaiian and other Asian and Pacific Islander ancestries.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2020, about 20 million Asians live in America. Hawaii has the largest percentage of Asian residents in America.
For further information about the events happening this month, contact Teller by email at robert.teller@us.af.mil.