Asian-Pacific American Heritage month kicks off Published May 1, 2009 SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) -- Beginning May 1, Airmen around the Air Force will begin celebrating Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month with events, speeches and various other activities at their bases. Events will highlight the culture and achievements of Americans of Asian and Pacific Island descent. Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated with community festivals, government-sponsored activities and educational activities for students. This year's theme is "Lighting the Past, Present and Future. The heritage month is just one part of several diversity programs supported by the federal government, Department of Defense and Air Force. In June 1977, Congress introduced a House resolution that called upon the president to proclaim the first ten days of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. The following month, a similar bill was introduced in the Senate. Both were passed. On Oct. 5, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution designating the annual celebration. In May 1990, the holiday was expanded further when President George H. W. Bush designated May to be Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. During Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, Airmen are encouraged to take time to recognize and celebrate the dedicated service and contributions of Asian-Pacific Americans, both past and present, to the country and the Air Force. Some of those Asian-Pacific Americans who made contributions to the Air Force were: On Jan. 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after lift off, killing all seven astronauts aboard. One of the crew, Astronaut (Lieutenant Colonel) Ellison Shoji Onizuka, had become the first Japanese American astronaut the year before when he flew on a secret mission aboard the shuttle Discovery. Colonel Onizuka (June 24, 1946-Jan. 28, 1986) was born and raised on Kona, Hawaii. He received a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1968 and a master's degree in 1969 from the University of Colorado. The following year, he joined the U.S. Air Force and became a flight engineer. Colonel Onizuka later attended the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, and in 1978, was selected by NASA for the astronaut program. Dr. Clifford I. Uyeda, a Nisei pediatrician, was a captain in the United States Air Force. From 1951 to 1953, he served in Korea as a medical doctor. Currently, Dr. Uyeda is not only a prominent figure in the medical and education arena, but he is also a well-known peace activist in the United States. On May 31, 1987, Hoang Nhu Tran, a former boat person, graduated valedictorian of the U.S. Air Force Academy in a class of 960 students. He was also a Rhodes Scholar and Time magazine's recipient of the 1986 College Achievement Award.