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R 141540Z MAY 07 ZUI ASN-A00134000009 ZYB FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-00H// TO ALCOAST BT UNCLAS //N05354// ALCOAST 238/07 COMDTNOTE 5354 SUBJ: ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH 1. DURING MAY 2007, OUR COUNTRY WILL CELEBRATE THE 27TH ANNUAL OBSERVANCE OF ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. THE THEME FOR THIS YEARS OBSERVANCE IS "PURSUING EXCELLENCE THROUGH LEADERSHIP, DIVERSITY, AND UNITY." 2. ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICANS HAVE SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN THE U.S. ARMED FORCES. MANY ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICANS CAME INTO SERVICE WITH THE COAST GUARD AS LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS. ONE WAS MANUEL FERREIRA, A KEEPER OF SEVEN LIGHTHOUSES IN HAWAII FROM 1908 TO 1946. HE WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS HEROIC RESCUES OF FISHERMEN AND CREWS OF SCHOONERS. 3. FLORENCE EBERSOLE SMITH FINCH WAS LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES WHEN THE JAPANESE CONQUERED THE ISLANDS IN 1942. SHE JOINED THE FILIPINO UNDERGROUND AND SMUGGLED FOOD, MEDICINE AND OTHER SUPPLIES TO THE AMERICAN CAPTIVES. AFTER THE PHILIPPINES WERE LIBERATED FINCH ENLISTED IN THE COAST GUARD, AND RECEIVED THE PACIFIC CAMPAIGN RIBBON FOR HER PREVIOUS ACTIONS. FINCH WAS ALSO AWARDED THE U.S. MEDAL OF FREEDOM. 4. COAST GUARD UNITS SHOULD USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO OUR SERVICE AND OUR NATION, AND THE WORLD. ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCES AND INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.DEOMI.ORG AND WWW.CR.NPS.GOV/NR/FEATURE/ASIA/. 5. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED. 6. MS. T. A. DICKERSON, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SENDS. BT
