Cultural Differences Celebrated During Diversity Dayend
Story and photo by Mark Elrod,
CFAY Public Affairs


AK-48, a hula dance troupe consisting of members of the CFAY community performs a Polynesian Hula dance before a crowd during the 2nd annual Navy Exchange (NEX) Yokosuka Diversity Day Aug. 6.

People on board Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) came together Aug. 6 to celebrate their cultural differences during the 2nd annual Navy Exchange (NEX) Yokosuka Diversity Day held at the Yokosuka base red brick area.

“If you look up diversity in the dictionary it says, ‘varied’ or variety, and that’s exactly what we are. As a people today, we are celebrating the differences amongst us, but we all know, at the end of the day, we are all one people,” said NEX Merchandise Manager Rusti Rausch, during her opening remarks.

“The Navy Exchange, being a worldwide organization, is definitely a diversified organization. We celebrate our differences, learn to work within our different cultures and ensure that we remain the successful organization that we are today,” she added.

During the event there were booths representing various countries displaying cultural aspects of each of them.

There was also entertainment in the form of Polynesian dancing provided by “AK-48” a Hula dance troupe consisting of members of the CFAY community.

Embracing diversity is a key element to success not only for the NEX, but for the Navy and all military communities as well.

“The Navy Exchange and the Navy itself are very diverse groups and at the end of the day the job has to get done,” said CFAY Negishi Housing Detachment Officer-in-Charge Romadel de las Alas, who was guest speaker for the event.

According to de las Alas, he enjoys diversity everyday with the group of people he works with in Negishi and it’s the diversity of the people that make the organizations successful.

“The beauty of the Navy, or for that matter the military and you, as family members, is that you all have an input,” he said.

“You all have something inside of you, because of your cultural background, that’s going to make something better; that’s going to make the exchange better; that’s going to help these families here in Yokosuka, in Negishi and Ikego,” added del las Alas.