With its residents speaking more than 100 languages, San Diego is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse cities in the country. The combined strength of this diversity has been a driving force behind why San Diego is considered America’s Finest City.
“San Diego is a special place with limitless potential, where everyone deserves equal access to opportunity, happiness and a bright future,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who has made equity a central pillar of his administration.
The diverse heritage of the community was again on full regalia during the USS Midway Museum’s 4th annual Multicultural Celebration. Musicians, singers and dancers from eight San Diego communities gathered on the museum’s hangar deck engaging in performances that highlighted the distinct and unique nature of their cultures.
“I thought the groups were fantastic to watch,” said Irene Pacheco, who was visiting Midway with her family. “I especially loved how elaborate and colorful many of the costumes were. It made the performances very vibrant.”
The celebration was organized by Midway’s community engagement committee with the goal of enhancing the community’s awareness and appreciation for San Diego’s different cultures.
“I think it is important to celebrate and share our diversity in San Diego because there are so many people from different backgrounds here and many people are still unaware as to how diverse and multiethnic San Diego is,” said Dennis-Michael Broussard, a member of Midway’s community engagement committee. “It is important to share and celebrate these differences, and know we are still all San Diegans, we are still Americans, and we are all in this together.”
Performing on a former Navy warship was a unique experience for each of the groups.
“It was a dream come true, an honor, to finally be blessed with the opportunity to board this carrier,” said Rosemary Mantanona, who leads the Guamanian performing group Guma’ Imahen Taotao Tano. “I was literally walking in history, thinking of the times this vessel was active in war. I felt overjoyed to share my indigenous Chamorro culture with the community and staff members aboard.”
Over past 20 year, Midway has become a cornerstone and icon for the city. Hosting the annual multicultural event continues to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to people of San Diego.
“With each year, Midway becomes more and more important to San Diegans,” said Pha Le, chair of the museum’s community engagement committee. “The people will look to us to lead in civic engagement, in support of our military and in support of all communities in San Diego. Therefore, it is fitting that we should also lead in bringing greater awareness to the city, as well as visitors to the Midway, of the diversity that inherently exists in the history of the ship, as well as the diversity of the city itself.”
“The USS Midway is an iconic part of the San Diego landscape and one of the most popular spots to visit in the city,” said Dennis, who coordinated the various performing groups’ participation in the day-long celebration. “By being a champion of diversity and bringing people together, Midway can be a leader in showing the importance of coming together and being a unified people, despite the many different origins of the citizens of San Diego.”
The performing groups represented Asian, Hispanic and African-American communities in San Diego. The event on Midway allows these communities to share their heritages with people who may have never had a previous opportunity to experience them.
“Celebrating and expanding the awareness of the cultural diversity of the San Diego community presents a platform for building cohesion,” said Rosemary, whose father served in the Vietnam and Korean Wars. “These communities feel seen, heard and validated for their efforts in community service and cultural preservation. Above all, they feel treasured and that they matter.”
During the event, Midway also celebrated it’s 80th birthday. The ship was commissioned a week after the end of World War II in September 1945.
“Celebrating Midway’s 80th birthday in combination with a celebration of our community’s diversity made it extra special and one of my favorite events on the Midway,” said Pha, who is also member of Midway’s board of directors. “Celebrating ethnic and cultural diversity is celebrating who we are as San Diegans. Furthermore, it helps us pay tribute to the diversity of the men who served on the Midway, and of the men and women who serve in our military today. This diversity is the backbone of our strength and will always be the source of our ingenuity.”
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