lily
05-28-2007, 10:54 PM
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070528/METRO/705280341
Arab vets to march into parade history
Group to share pride in America with first appearance in Memorial Day rite
in Dearborn.
Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News
DEARBORN -- After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, U.S. Marine Sgt. Jamal
Baadani immediately contacted other soldiers of Arabic descent and the
Muslim faith.
"There was such a backlash and discrimination against our communities and we
scrambled to find out where the Arabs and Muslims were in our armed forces,"
Baadani said. "I thought we could tell people, 'Look, we are not terrorists
like these guys who attacked our country. We are Arab-Americans, and we are
soldiers.' "
Baadani discovered there was no organization of Arab-American soldiers, so
he started one.
Today, about 50 soldiers and veterans who are members of the Association of
Patriotic Arab Americans in the Military will march for the first time in a
parade during the Memorial Day festivities in Dearborn.
"It's an historic moment, and I am really proud of them," said City
Councilwoman Suzanne Sareini. "It really is about time for these soldiers
and veterans to be recognized."
For Baadani, a Marine for 19 years who completed two recent tours with an
anti-terrorism task force in the Horn of Africa, the mission of the march is
crucial.
"We want to get the attention of two groups: First, the American people so
that they will know Arab-Americans and Muslims are serving in the armed
forces," he said. "Second, for others in our communities, so they will sign
up."
About 3,500 soldiers of Arab descent are in the armed services, and Arabic
soldiers have served the country since the Revolutionary War. But young men
and women of Arab descent and the Muslim faith often eye the foreign policy
of the country in places like the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and
elsewhere and wonder if it is appropriate for them to fight, leaders in both
communities say.
Among the 50 soldiers and veterans expected to march are Ronald Amen, who
heads security at the Arab American National Museum and who served in the
U.S. Army during the Vietnam War; Marine Sgt. Bassem Alkhafaji of Dearborn,
who is stationed at Camp Pendleton after tours in Iraq; and Marine Cpl.
Musheer al-Safari of Dearborn.
Arab vets to march into parade history
Group to share pride in America with first appearance in Memorial Day rite
in Dearborn.
Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News
DEARBORN -- After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, U.S. Marine Sgt. Jamal
Baadani immediately contacted other soldiers of Arabic descent and the
Muslim faith.
"There was such a backlash and discrimination against our communities and we
scrambled to find out where the Arabs and Muslims were in our armed forces,"
Baadani said. "I thought we could tell people, 'Look, we are not terrorists
like these guys who attacked our country. We are Arab-Americans, and we are
soldiers.' "
Baadani discovered there was no organization of Arab-American soldiers, so
he started one.
Today, about 50 soldiers and veterans who are members of the Association of
Patriotic Arab Americans in the Military will march for the first time in a
parade during the Memorial Day festivities in Dearborn.
"It's an historic moment, and I am really proud of them," said City
Councilwoman Suzanne Sareini. "It really is about time for these soldiers
and veterans to be recognized."
For Baadani, a Marine for 19 years who completed two recent tours with an
anti-terrorism task force in the Horn of Africa, the mission of the march is
crucial.
"We want to get the attention of two groups: First, the American people so
that they will know Arab-Americans and Muslims are serving in the armed
forces," he said. "Second, for others in our communities, so they will sign
up."
About 3,500 soldiers of Arab descent are in the armed services, and Arabic
soldiers have served the country since the Revolutionary War. But young men
and women of Arab descent and the Muslim faith often eye the foreign policy
of the country in places like the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and
elsewhere and wonder if it is appropriate for them to fight, leaders in both
communities say.
Among the 50 soldiers and veterans expected to march are Ronald Amen, who
heads security at the Arab American National Museum and who served in the
U.S. Army during the Vietnam War; Marine Sgt. Bassem Alkhafaji of Dearborn,
who is stationed at Camp Pendleton after tours in Iraq; and Marine Cpl.
Musheer al-Safari of Dearborn.