Asian Artistry

Tonya Fennell: Cannon Connections

Cannon Connections

On nimble bare feet, Soumaly Orlando stepped gracefully across the wooden floor. With a dimpled smile, she coaxed the small crowd to clap along to the upbeat tempo of a Laotian song.

Orlando, a Staff Sgt. based at Cannon Air Force Base, performed a traditional Laos dance at The Landing. The entertainment provided by the 27-year-old was part of an Asian Pacific American Heritage Month luncheon held at Cannon Air Force Base Tuesday afternoon.

Airmen of Asian or Pacific Island ethnicity represent one of the smallest minority groups in the Air Force, according to Cannon Air Force Base Public Affairs spokesperson Lt. George Tobias.

On Oct. 2, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the Joint Resolution declaring APA Heritage Week. The first celebration was held in May of 1979. The week was extended to a month-long celebration in 1992, when President George Bush signed a law permanently designating May as APA Heritage Month, according to http://www.whitehouse.gov.

Orlando, who works in customer service as a supply technician at Cannon Air Force Base, said she moved to the United States with her parents in 1981. “My parents migrated because of the big war,” she said. “I was only 9 months old.”

Although raised in the United States, Orlando said it was important to her parents to teach her and her brothers about their culture. “In high school I was into sports not my culture,” she said, “but my mom threw me into learning how to dance.”

Orlando wore a traditional brightly-colored gold embroidered dress. She said the song to which she performed was about the King of Laos’ town. “I chose it because it is a fun, upbeat song,” she said.

Orlando said she was both excited and nervous to perform the simple, elegant dance that represented her culture. “I’m lucky and fortunate,” she said, “and I just wanted to share this dance.”

After watching the entertainment, feasting on Asian cuisine and listening to a history of notable Asians in politics, sports and the military, Col. Scott West, 287th Fighter Wing Commander, lauded the event.

“Even though we all wear the same uniform,” West said, “This is what makes us all unique.”