NEW YORK -- Marine Corps Recruiting Station New York celebrated the historical grand opening of Permanent Contact Station Chinatown with a ribbon cutting ceremony July 6.
The Marines invited key members of the Chinese community to the festivities.
To keep with traditions and show respect to the Chinese culture, one of the highlights of the celebration included a lion dance performed by a Chinatown dance troupe.
“The Marine Corps is a reflection of our society,” said 1st Lt. Ramon Deleon, RS New York’s executive officer. “Chinese Americans are a big part of our American society and this is our way of ensuring we maintain a diverse and broad Marine Corps. All the people from different backgrounds represent our values as a nation.”
Deleon emphasized that PCS Chinatown will allow RS New York to get closer to the Chinese community by having an office located within the community. The Chinese-American community agreed with Deleon.
“Today we need our people (the Chinese American community) to serve our country as well,” said Harvard Tang, commander, New York County Organization of the American Legion, Department of New York. “It’s good to have a Marine Corps recruiting station down here in Chinatown. Chinese Americans should be proud to take part in Marine Corps’s values: honor, courage, commitment and leadership.”
Fang A. Wong, a former national vice commander in The American Legion, also shared his thoughts regarding Asian American service to country.
“The increase of the Asian American young adults joining the military in the past 10 years is great because we’re here, and this is our country, and we need to do our fair share,” stated Wong.
“The Asian American market hasn’t been tapped into very often,” Wong added. “So it’s good that the Marine Corps recognizes that there is a market here.”
“The Marine Corps is proud to be a part of the Chinese community in the New York metro area,” said Maj. Alexander E. Gilbert, commanding officer of RS New York. “It is high time that we finally opened up a Permanent Contact Station here to bridge the gap between the Marine Corps and the Chinese community. We are anticipating nothing but high-caliber quality individuals to join the ranks of the Few and the Proud.”
“The whole Chinese community is proud to support the Marine Corps and this station will recruit well-qualified individuals to uphold the Marine Corps standards,” said Tang.
PCS Chinatown is located at 153C Centre Street New York, N.Y.