Photo By Keith Hayes | From young to old, the members of the Native American dance group Whiteclouds...... read more read more
A Multicultural Day celebration was staged aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., May 16.
More than 300 people attended the celebration at the Semper Fit Gym, snacking on specially prepared foods and watching songs and dances performed by different groups representing several cultures.
“This (event) meets all the requirements put out by the DoD through the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute,” said Gunnery Sgt. James Hainer, the military Equal Employment Opportunity representative, who along with an eight-member council, organized the event. “DEOMI describes all of the cultural observances that the military is required to facilitate and provide some form of recognition for.”
Officially there are more than a dozen cultures mandated by the DoD which must be recognized.
“Since we’re such a small command the easiest way to meet all requirements is our Multicultural Day celebration,” Hainer said.
Hainer said the last four in the chart are not required by the DoD to be celebrated, but were included in the recognition as having cultures and customs unique tothe particular department.
Three Montford Point Marines attended the celebration to honor the first black Marines to serve in the Corps.
Among them were Capt. Edward Q. Hicks, Master Gunnery Sgt. Bob Reid and Gunnery Sgt. Louis Massengale, all of whom served at MCLB Barstow in the 1950s and ‘60s.
“The goal of this afternoon is to educate and entertain,” said Col. Sekou Karega, base commander, as he kicked off the celebration. “It’s to foster an environment of unity. This event gives us an opportunity to teach and learn about the different ethnicities and cultures which make our nation and our military great. Our diversity unifies us and unity make us stronger.”
| Date Taken: | 05.24.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.25.2018 16:39 |
| Story ID: | 278491 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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