GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas—The audience watches as a member of the Asian American Women Association performs a Korean Drum dance during an Observance Fair May 30 at the Event Center. The fair celebrates Asian-Pacific Heritage Month. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jessica Keith)
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas-- A member of the Asian American Women Association performs Korean Hour Glass Dance during an Observance Fair May 30 at the Event Center. The fair celebrates Asian-Pacific Heritage Month and includes several dances, ethnic foods and informational display booths. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jessica Keith)
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas—Staff Sgt. Theresia Anderson, 17th Medical Operations Squadron, and Master Sgt. Christopher Norci, 17th Force Support Squadron 1st Sgt., check out one of more than a dozen informational displays at an Observance Fair at the Event Center May 30. The fair celebrates Asian-Pacific Heritage Month and also includes dance performances and ethnic foods. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jessica Keith)
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas—Members of the Asian American Women Association perform a Filipino Flower dance during an Observance Fair at the Event Center May 30.
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas—A member of the Asian American Women Association performs a Korean Fan dance at the Event Center during an Observance Fair May 30. The fair celebrates Asian-Pacific Heritage Month and also includes dance performances and ethnic foods. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jessica Keith)
by Airman 1st Class Jessica Keith
17th Training Wing Public Affairs
6/5/2012 - GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas-- -- Goodfellow celebrated Asian-Pacific Heritage Month during the month of May with various events, culminating in an Observance Fair May 30.
The fair included informational displays, an array of ethnic foods and performers representing different Asian-Pacific countries.
Asian-Pacific heritage is celebrated in May to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. in May 1843 as well as the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, which was constructed mostly by Chinese immigrants.
The theme for this year was "Diversity, Leadership and Beyond" and this year's Asian-Pacific Heritage Month Committee decided to concentrate on the diversity of the cultures encompassed in the celebrations.
"When you think of Asian-Pacific heritage, people automatically think of Japan or China," said Senior Airman McThobert Carreon, this year's committee president. "We it thought was important to raise awareness of our diverse cultures during Asian-Pacific Heritage Month; more than a dozen countries are represented."
The fair included four dance and musical performances, - a Korean Fan dance, a Filipino Flower dance, a Korean Drum dance and a Korean Hour Glass dance.
The informational displays showcased more than a dozen Asian-Pacific countries displaying basic facts about the country and its connection to the U.S.
"As a military member, I felt it was important that we also link the countries we are recognizing to the United States," Carreon said. "It's not just about showing the different cultures of these countries, it's also about showing what we contributed to this country."
Master Sgt. Christopher Norci, 17th Force Support Squadron 1st Sgt., attended the event and said he learned a lot.
"I was impressed with the format of the fair," Norci said. "It was clear the committee put a lot of thought into how to do this. The display booths were particularly interesting and informative. Airman Carreon and his group did an excellent job."
