Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration

Guests attend an Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration May 8, 2019, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. The celebration included a class on lumpia making, a cultural talk and a heritage exhibit that went into detail about the customs and courtesies of Asian and Pacific Islander cultures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Chiyanna L. Maxwell)

Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration

Published May 9, 2019
By Airman 1st Class Chiyanna L. Maxwell
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- The Asian-American and Pacific Islander committee at Malmstrom Air Force Base hosted a free event on May 8, where guests were given insight on various Asian and Pacific Islander cultures.

“I’m excited to be a part of this committee,” said Airman 1st Class Bloom Esteller, 341st Medical Operations Squadron dental technician. “It gave me the opportunity to meet amazing people with different cultural backgrounds.”

The event kicked off with lumpia making, where participants were taught a bit of history and how to make this savory snack. Lumpia is an egg roll that originated in China, but is also commonly found in Indonesia and the Philippines.

There was also a cultural talk and a heritage exhibit that went into detail about numerous items, customs and courtesies of the different cultures.

“This event allowed not only myself, but others as well, to showcase some of the many different cultures that make the Air Force so diverse,” said Senior Airman Darias Fa’aita, 341st Force Support Squadron base honor guard member. “The cultural diversity among all of our Airmen is vast and to be able to share a part of who we are and where we come from is important.”