Whereas the United States is enriched by the diversity of its residents, who have cultivated a climate of social tolerance and intellectual pluralism that has sustained the Nation throughout its history; Whereas the Sikh community, which originated in Punjab, India, and began immigrating into the United States over 100 years ago, has played an important role in developing the United States; Whereas Sikhism is the world’s fifth-largest religion with nearly 30,000,000 adherents, roughly 1,000,000 of whom call the United States home; Whereas, founded by Guru Nanak in the Punjab region of India during the 15th century, the Sikh spiritual tradition is rooted in the belief that every person, regardless of race, gender, sex, or creed, is equal before God; Whereas believing that every person shares a connection through the oneness of God, the Sikh community emerged as a force for social justice by encouraging female participation in religious services and initiating interfaith efforts to combat oppression and injustice; Whereas the Sikh religion’s central principles of truthful living, service to humanity, and devotion to God also inspire its believers to create inclusive communities where all are respected; Whereas through leading charitable events, the Sikh community embodies the sense of public service that underlies the founding principles of the United States; Whereas the people of the United States feel obliged to honor the Sikh community’s important role in supporting and enriching the social fabric of the Nation; Whereas Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi on the first day of the month of Vaisakh in the Sikh calendar, which typically falls on April 14; Whereas Vaisakhi is a special occasion in which Sikhs remember the founding in 1699 of the Order of Khalsa, a fellowship of devout saint-soldier Sikhs, by the 10th Sikh Guru to fight tyranny and oppression, which played an important role in shaping the religion’s history and identity