Sylvester Salcedo, of Orange, was born to a Filipino father and a Filipino-Chinese mother. He says he has grown accustomed to people sometimes thinking, upon first meeting him, that he was not born in the United States.

"So when I say, I'm an American, it doesn't really -- it doesn't really fit the expectation," the 66-year-old retired lawyer said.

Salcedo was born in Minneapolis in 1956, is a proud veteran and served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years.

"I received my commission as an ensign in February 1979," said Sylvester. News 12 Connecticut's Frank Recchia asked Sylvester how it makes him feel when people assume he is not from the United States.

"Quite frankly Frank, I welcome it," he said. "That's one of the positive contributions, I believe, of having a celebration month dedicated -- the month of May -- to Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander History Month because, all really anybody is looking for is just a little bit of recognition and a lot of celebration."

Salcedo says he's proud of having spent his legal career doing everything from helping parents get their kids back to defending seniors who have been exploited, and he says the best part of being an American is appreciating others for the richness and diversity they bring to this nation.