Asian Pacific American Heritage Honored Every May

	A Thai traditional dance is performed as part of the Asian Pacific American heritage month activities at Goddard. Dancers adorned finger tips with coned glitter pieces to create a dramatic atmosphere during a candle light party in Thailand.

A cultural highlight at Goddard during the month of May is the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations. During the national celebration the Goddard community is given the opportunity to honor the immensely rich and diverse histories, cultures, and collective Asian Pacific American contributions to the growth of this nation.

According to Gerald Tiqui, Asian Pacific American Program Manager, "Special observances and celebrations are means for educating the work force on cultural diversity and assisting management and staff in creating a work environment that respects diversity in all its dimensions." This is an opportunity for the Goddard community to see another aspect of diversity. It is also an opportunity to see the diversity within the Asian Pacific American community and for Goddard to gain a better understanding of what Asian Pacific Americans are about," Tiqui added. Tiqui responsibilities include working closely with members of the Goddard Asian Pacific American community to present issues of concern to Goddard's senior management.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was created in 1992; fifteen years after Congressman Frank Horton and Norman Mineta introduced the House Resolution calling for the establishment of Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1990 President George Bush signed an extension converting the week long celebration into a month. Public Law 102-450 approved October 23, 1992, designated May of each year Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The final bill (H.R. 5572) was passed by the United States Congress and was signed into law by President George Bush.

According to the 2003 Proclamation signed by President George Bush, people from all cultures have traveled to our Nation seeking the promise of freedom, opportunity, and justice. As an integral part of our society, Americans of Asian and Pacific heritage share in the pursuit of this American Dream.

"America is strengthened by the rich cultural diversity of our people, and we are blessed to be a Nation that welcomes individuals of all races, religions, and cultural backgrounds," commented President Bush. "The values and traditions of the Asian Pacific American community - love of family, entrepreneurship, excellence in education, and community service - have strengthened us as a Nation. During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we celebrate the contributions of these talented and hard-working citizens and recognize their rich legacy of ingenuity, perseverance, and achievement," said the President.

Asian Pacific Americans are also helping to shape America's future. As entrepreneurs, artists, educators, public servants, scientists, and explorers, they challenge the minds of our next generation, expand commerce and innovation, probe the frontiers of space, and search for cures for the world's diseases. Our children are also inspired by the contributions and sacrifices of dedicated individuals such as inventor An Wang, experimental physicist Chien-Shiung Wu, Challenger astronaut Ellison Onizuka, Columbia astronaut Kalpana Chawla, and sculptor Isamu Noguchi.

Japanese dance is performed in traditional elaborate custome. Photos by Debbie McCallum/293

This week the Goddard Advisory Committee for Asian Pacific American Employees sponsored a cultural presentation which included Chinese Opera, an arias that is accompanied with a dramatic dance performance, Japanese Dance and Thai music and dance.

The Goddard Advisory Committee for Asian Pacific American Employees invites all employees to the remaining Asian Pacific American Heritage Month activity:

"Widow of Que Moy" Dr. Jeffrey Chen

Book Signing: "Widow of Que Moy," follows the presentation.
Sponsored by the Goddard Chinese American Club and the Advisory Committee for Asian Pacific American Employees.

When: Thursday, May 22, 2003
Time: 11:30 AM- 1:00 PM
Where: GSFC Recreation Center
(Non- Members, $3 for light lunch)