2019 Kirtland Air Force Base Asian-American Pacific Islander Her

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joel Rivera, right, 58th Maintenance Group, and Master Sgt. Jose Estampador, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, prepare food for the Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Cultural Show and Luncheon at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., May 22, 2019. Attendees were provided with a lunch that included grilled beef, lumpia and kalua pork. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eli Chevalier)

Kirtland wraps up Asian American Pacific Islander heritage month

Published May 22, 2019
By Airman 1st Class Austin J. Prisbrey
Kirtland Public Affairs

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --

The Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month came to close with a cultural show and luncheon at the Rio Grande Community Center here May 22, 2019.

This event is a culmination of a month of celebrating AAPI heritage. Guests were entertained with music and dance performances representing different AAPI cultures during the luncheon.

“This year’s theme is, ‘Unite our Mission By Engaging Each Other,’” said Master Sgt. Manuel Jimenez, AAPI heritage month project officer. “Our hope and goal is to recognize the members of the AAPI community throughout the base. It’s important because they all contribute to the mission.”

The AAPI heritage agenda throughout May ranged from outreach events at the youth center, a food tasting at the Commissary, an ultimate noodle chef competition and wrapped up with the cultural show and luncheon.

“It was great seeing all the cultures of the Asian Pacific Islanders,” said Staff Sgt. Patrick Nance, 705thCombat Training Squadron NCOIC of cyberspace operations. “My wife is Asian and it’s good to see that people are wanting to come out and share their different cultures with everyone else and have so many people here enjoying it.

May was chosen to celebrate AAPI heritage to pay homage to the first Japanese to immigrate to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and in reference to the transcontinental railroad being completed May 10, 1869. Most of the railroad workers on the tracks where Chinese immigrants.

“A good chunk of the Air Force are not from the U.S.,” said Nance. “Their backgrounds are very diverse. It’s nice to see them all come together for one big event and all have the same common goal: learning and enjoying the different cultures that we all share.”

And of course, a big part of the AAPI capstone event was the food. The menu featured traditional mainstays like Kalua Pork, Lumpia, rice, pineapple cake, and more. The committee served more than 400 customers.