Photo By Damany Coleman | A group of dancers move to the rhythm of diversity, showing off their cultural dance...... read more read more
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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- “Knowledge is the key to tolerance.” This was the motto and theme of the 2011 Multi-Cultural Heritage Day Celebration, which showcased and celebrated on the lives of all the various ethnicities that make up the armed forces, at the Goettge Memorial Field House aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Oct. 14.
Service members were given insight on various cultures through education and a colorful collective of heritage, history, food, music and fun, which honored diversity and celebrated everyone’s commonality – being American.
“As Americans, we epitomize unity through freedom,” said Master Sgt. Kevin James, MCB Camp Lejeune’s equal opportunity adviser. “We are united in the strengths of diversity, a nation of great resources and opportunities, all of which can be attributed to the contributions and achievements of various racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.”
Outside of the field house, attendees experienced international flavors from food vendors who served beverages, meals and snacks from their places of origin.
The entirety of the field house’s gymnasium was decorated with vibrant flags from nations across the world, as well as garments, statuettes, collectibles and artwork featured from other countries.
The masses were entertained by service members and people from the military community who volunteered the knowledge of their own nationalities’ native dances, as well as hip hop and pop songs that featured popular, fun dance steps.
Gunnery Sgt. Heather Ravenscroft, 2nd Marine Logistics Group EOA, said each and every Marine, regardless of where they are from, brings something unique to today’s military.
“They may see something one way that is different or outside of the box and make a process go a lot faster and easier,” said Ravenscroft. “Bringing together all the different cultures makes the military a lot better and more cohesive. I think that if we had all of one culture, it wouldn’t be as strong as it is today.”
For those who didn’t attend, Ravenscroft recommended that they come next year and even volunteer to help out and work in the event.
“You get to meet a lot of different people you may have not met before,” said Ravenscroft. “It’s not just for the cultures that are represented there, it’s for everyone to come learn about the cultures that they are not.”
Petty Officer 1st Class Lisa Ceron, with II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, said diversity is important for service members because not only are they physically different, many of them don’t look alike, they are different colors and believe in many different things.
“We also come with different skills and bring different points of view to the table, which helps us grow as a force in our general community, in our families and even as individuals,” said Ceron.
Ceron added some service members participate in cultural diversity more often then they even realize.
“If you have a command function, and you go to Mi Cabana or Olive Garden – those are ethnic restaurants,” said Ceron. “When you have potlucks, the first thing you do is find out who is making what kinds of foods so you know what to bring, which is going to open up conversations and give you insight on their culture and things that they like.”
Cpl. Joy White, with Combat Logistics Company 21, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd MLG, said being diverse allows service members to learn from each other in countless ways including skills and information that can be used in everyday life.
“America is a big melting pot, so why shouldn’t the military represent that same cultural diversity as everyone else?” asked White. “It brings a lot to the table and makes life in the military interesting. You get to travel the world and even your roommate or someone you work with can be from another country. You get to learn a lot from them.”
White, who sang “God Bless America” at the opening of the celebration, added that she believed the cultural day events went especially well, due to the fact many children received a healthy dose of diversity at such a young age.
“It’s good to expose children to diversity early, because they’re growing up in a world that’s becoming more globalized with Internet – MySpace, Twitter, Facebook. Everybody is connecting,” said White. “There isn’t that (social) block anymore. Exposing them to it makes them better well rounded citizens.”
Lance Cpl. Jonatan Galeano, a travel clerk with Disbursing office, Headquarters and Support Battalion, MCB Camp Lejeune, said having cultural diversity is a great thing and contributes to the fact that Marines are first to fight, wherever in the world they may be.
“Depending where war is, the Marine Corps is always there,” said Galeano. “As being the first ones to respond, we have to be able to be culturally responsible and have a lot of ethnicities with us. Most Marines who are American and haven’t lived anywhere else before the Corps, get to experience a lot. It’s surprising how many different races (there are) in every shop on base.”
Galeano said that events like Multi-Cultural Heritage Day bring all the cultures together so every can learn something new about each other.
“Hang out with your peers,” said Galeano. “No two Marines are alike in the same work section. Culture changes a person from the inside. Sometimes hanging out with someone can change you point of view after hanging out with them for a few hours. (Throughout the history of the Corps), some of have been ignorant to whatever other cultures were involved. Today, you may even have some of the people you work with from the same culture. When you learn more about people, you learn more about yourself.”
| Date Taken: | 10.14.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.19.2011 15:11 |
| Story ID: | 78720 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 45 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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