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JBSA News
NEWS | May 23, 2018

AMEDDC&S celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

By Jose E. Rodriguez Army Medical Department Center & School Public Affairs

The U.S. Army Medical Department Center & School hosted the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Commemoration for Joint Base San Antonio at Blesse Auditorium at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston May 22.

Guest speaker Maj. Anish Patel, Medical Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic at Brooke Army Medical Center, reflected on his family’s experiences immigrating to the United States, growing up as an Indian American, and his experience as a physician in the U.S. Army.

Two cultural dance and music presentations were presented, the first by Sonali Sarkar, Saheli Datta and Pampa Bhattacharya, who performed a dance from the state of West Bengal, the main language of which is Bengali. The dance was a modern take on the tradition of welcoming the spring season.

Afterwards the Desert Polynesia Dance Troupe, the official performers for SeaWorld Aquatica San Antonio’s “Island Nights,” entertained the audience with traditional Polynesia music and dances.

After the ceremony, there was a sampling of Asian and Pacific Island food dishes.