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SCANG Celebrates Diversity Day

  • Published
  • By Airman First Class Ashleigh Pavelek
  • 169th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. --  Airmen of the South Carolina Air National Guard joined together here to celebrate different cultures during "A Taste of McEntire Diversity Day" Oct. 4.

Airmen gathered for food and festivities with cuisines native to Asian-American and African-American and Hispanic cultures. Brig. Gen. Jim Chow, the Air National Guard Assistant to the Surgeon General for policy and operation of the United States Air Force, spoke on diversity and the ideals of being an American and giving back.  

"Being able to celebrate diversity in this country is a privilege," Chow told the gathered crowd. "It is the cornerstone of this country. Wearing the uniform makes us one."

The Taste of Diversity Day reinforces the idea of the military as a melting pot of Americans.

"We are a military comprised of different types of cultures, different types of people," said Tech. Sgt. Thomas Edmunds, an electronics countermeasures journeyman with the 169th Maintenance Squadron. "It's nice to know who we are working with and where they come from to better understand them as people and as a culture."

McEntire's diversity day originated four years ago when Brig. Gen. Scott Williams, and other Air Guard leaders, combined the celebrations of individual cultures held throughout the year into one single day to celebrate all cultures represented on base.

"Often, when we think of diversity, we think nationality, ethnicity and culture," said Col. David Meyer, the 169th Fighter Wing commander.  "The thing I love about the military is the experiences that everyone has about where they come from."

Meyer added the diversity of cultures and its perspective have contributed greatly to the development of McEntire's current leadership. He encouraged all Airmen to get to know one another and understand each other.