HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — In celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States, the Hill AFB Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Committee held festival May 16 at Centennial Park. The event included cultural awareness activities, as well as Filipino and Hawaiian food.

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month occurs in May to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. on May 7, 1843. May also marks the anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad, which was completed May 10, 1869, largely using the labor of Chinese immigrants.

The month is designated to recognize the personal achievements and valuable contributions by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who live in the United States. It is also a celebration of cultural traditions, ancestry, native languages, and unique experiences represented among more than 50 ethnic groups speaking more than 100 languages from Asia and the Pacific Islands.