DoD Observance of Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month

1. EVERY YEAR SINCE 1979, THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED
STATES HAS PROCLAIMED A NATIONAL OBSERVANCE IN MAY TO CELEBRATE THE
CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR CITIZENS WITH ASIAN AND PACIFIC
ISLANDER DESCENT.
2. THIS YEAR'S DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THEME IS "DREAMS AND CHALLENGES
FOR ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICANS". ALTHOUGH THERE ARE OVER
55 ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER NATIONAL AND ETHNIC ORIGINS, HISTORY
RECORDS THAT THE DREAM BEGAN FOR SOME AS EARLY AS 1849 WHEN THE
CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH SPARKED THE FIRST MASS IMMIGRATION OF CHINESE.
DURING THE 1800's LEGAL BARRIERS ALSO BEGAN TO DECREASE, FACILITATING
THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST JAPANESE IMMIGRANTS INTO THE UNITED STATES,
AS WELL AS THE SIGNING OF THE U.S.-KOREAN TREATY ALLOWING THE
IMMIGRATION OF KOREANS. 
3. TODAY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 5,600 MARINES SERVING IN OUR CORPS OF
ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER DESCENT. THEIR HERITAGE IS FULL OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LEFT A LASTING LEGACY WHILE SERVING PROUDLY IN
THE DEFENSE OF AMERICA.
4. THE MONTH OF MAY IS AN IDEAL OCCASION TO HONOR ALL AMERICANS OF
ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER DESCENT, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE
SERVED AND CONTINUE TO SERVE SELFLESSLY. THEIR DEDICATION PROVIDES
A FITTING EXAMPLE TO ALL AS WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GLOBAL WAR ON
TERRORISM AND PROTECT OUR NATION'S SECURITY.
5. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE
THE ROLE OF THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE. COMMANDERS ARE
FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN
OBSERVANCE OF EVENTS BOTH ON BASE AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND TO
DEVELOP LOCAL THEMES FOR USE AT THEIR COMMANDS.