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FORT SAM
HOUSTON - 2006 ASIAN PACIFIC HERITAGE |
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By Evelyn Langford |
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During the month of May
across the nation and in military communities worldwide, the
observance and celebrations of Asian Pacific American Heritage will
bring greater awareness of the rich history and contributions that
Asian Pacific Americans have made and continue to make American a
strong, vibrant and free society.
The military community of Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas has
a reputation for implementing creative educational and cultural
programs every year that enhance and promote the achievements and
contributions of Asian Pacific Americans in areas of science,
education, business, government, medicine, entertainment and the
military.
This year the Fort Sam Houston community had the distinct honor of
hosting Congressman Eni Faleomavaega as their special guest to their
celebration activities. Despite having received a previous
invitation from President Bush to attend the White House ceremony in
celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month during the same
timeframe, Congressman Faleomavaega respectfully declined and kept
his commitment to the military community in Texas. Congressman
Faleomavaega was able to pay a special visit to the Brooke Army
Medical Center which includes the Amputee Center and the Department
of Defense Burn Center where casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan
receive medical treatment for injuries sustained in combat.
Congressman Faleomavaega met with the Commanding General of the
medical center, Brigadier General James Gilman and received a tour
of the Amputee Center and Burn Center. Congressman Faleomavaega
visited with Army Staff Sergeant Pio Paau who was in the Intensive
Care Unit of the Burn Center and also spent time with his family.
Paau is receiving treatment for burn injuries sustained from an
Improvised Explosive Device on April 12, 2006 during a convoy
operation. It was a unique opportunity for Congressman Faleomavaega
as he observed firsthand the top notch care the injured combat
casualties are receiving from the medical staff in the Burn Center.
When hosting a dignitary at a military installation, part of the
protocol includes the tasking of a military escort and driver. When
the protocol office learned of. |
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Fort Sam Houston community at their 1st Annual Luau (front left
to right): Missionary Nofoaiga Moi, Congressman Faleomavaega,
Buffalo Bills Lauvale Sape, McCann Utu (back left to right):
Dave Langford, Aunu'u Faalepo, Chris Paau, Ausage Suiaunoa. |
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Brooke Army Medical Center (left to right): Sergeant First Class
Santos, Mr. Chris Paau, 3-yr old Puna Paau, Congressman
Faleomavaega, Ms Passi, Sergeant First Class Scott and Mrs.
Antoinina Paau. |
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Congressman Faleomavaega pictured with a few members of the Fort
Sam Houston/San Antonio Samoan community consisting of Active
Duty, Retired Soldiers and family members. |
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Colonel Kent Nabarette
who is of Hawaiian-Filipino descent was Congressman Faleomavaega’s
escort and Specialist Vena Sele of Samoan heritage served as the
driver.
Colonel Nabarette is assigned to the Surgeon’s Office of the Army
North Command and will complete thirty years of military service
this summer in July 2006. Specialist Sele is assigned to the Medical
Holding Company and is from American Samoa. Sele was medically
evacuated from Iraq to Fort Sam Houston last year in April 2005 and
has been receiving treatment and rehabilitation for his burn
injuries but was able to perform driver duties during the
Congressman’s visit.
An added blessing to the festivities along with Congressman
Faleomavaega’s presence was a guest appearance by Mr. Lauvale Sape
#93 Defensive Tackle of the Buffalo Bills. Mr. Sape is from American
Samoa, a graduate of the University of Utah and currently resides in
Buffalo, New York. During his visit he was also able to visit with
the combat casualties at the medical center and participated in an
autograph session hosted by the Army and Air Force Exchange Services
at the local post exchange store.
Congressman Faleomavaega and Mr. Sape were among the special guests
who joined the Commanding General of Fort Sam Houston, Major General
George Weightman at the highlight of the celebration in the first
annual luau which had over 500 military personnel and family members
in attendance of which a large majority were of Asian Pacific
heritage.
The program began with a display of the Sua Presentation performed
by Army Staff Sergeant Mario Lefiti and Army Sergeant First Class
Jacqueline Savusa Pona. Both are military instructors with the Army
Medical Department Center and School and provide medical training to
Soldiers undergoing their Advanced Individual Training (AIT) to
become a combat medic. There were also performances by a group of
non-islanders from the U.S. Army Medical Command who took the time
to be instructed in the art of Polynesian dancing during the whole
month of April and performed dances from the Tahitian and Samoan
islands. An added feature to the program was a performance by Army
Sergeant Leilani Hart who is stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
but is attending a Dental Hygienist course at Fort Sam Houston.
The main entertainment was provided by Hawaii Entertainment
Productions featuring Savea’s South Seas from Houston, Texas. The
husband and wife team of Savea and Vaveao Partsch and their seven
children and grandchildren have provided Polynesian entertainment
for over 26 years and are the only full-time Polynesian troupe in
Texas. The dinner was provided by C&H Hawaiian Grill from Killeen,
Texas. The owners of C&H are Hensan and Cora Timo and have been in
business for over two and a half years and are located outside of
Fort Hood, Texas where a large number of military personnel are
stationed.
Congressman Faleomavaega shared in his remarks during the event
excerpts given during the Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus on May
9th 2006 that acknowledged the contributions of Asian Pacific
American individuals and communities to the success of our great
nation. He highlighted the accomplishments in the areas of
government, sciences, sports, entertainment and the military. He
spoke of the rich history of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry
and recounted the events that resulted in the Go for Broke element
becoming the most decorated combat unit of its size in the history
of the U.S. Army.
The Congressman then provided a moving conclusion to his remarks in
describing what America is all about. “I cannot think of it said
better than on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the summer of
1963 when an African American minister by the name of Martin Luther
King Jr., poured out his heart and soul to every American who could
hear his voice when he uttered these famous words – “I have a dream.
My dream is that one day my children will be judged not by the color
of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
As with every Asian Pacific American Heritage celebration at Fort
Sam Houston, the intent is always to inform, educate and enhance the
awareness of individuals and communities worldwide of the history
and contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to this great nation
called America. The visit by Congressman Faleomavaega and Mr. Sape
of the Buffalo Bills enhanced the appreciation and understanding of
the Fort Sam Houston and San Antonio community as to who Asian
Pacific Americans are and their role in the enrichment of our
nation’s culture and history.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd. 2005
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