<<< click here to see more
pictures Chủ Nhật 30 Tháng 4, 2006 vào lúc 9:45 am. Tại Nghĩa Trang Quốc Gia Thái B́nh Dương, Honolulu, Hawaii.
BUỔI LỄ KHÁNH THÀNH BIA ĐÁ VINH DANH CHIẾN SĨ QLVNCH và HK ĐĂ HY SINH CHO TỰ DO, DÂN CHỦ VÀ NHÂN QUYỀN CHO THẾ GIỚI TRONG CHIẾN TRẬN VIỆTNAM.
<<< click here to see more
pictures
Thirty-one years ago today, the overseas Vietnamese began their escape from the communist oppression and the exodus continues even todaỵ.
There are currently 3 millions overseas Vietnamese expatriates throughout the world. They have gone on to be production citizens in those nations they now live in. Now that they have become established, they are making contributions to bond with the American veterans. This bond was given-birth by General Frederic Weyand who was the chief planner of the mass evacuation for the loyal South Vietnamese prior to the fall of Saigon in April 1975.
More than one million Overseas Vietnamese who are living in American as citizens have become successful as professors, lawyers, astronauts, medical doctors, entrepreneurs, models, movie stars, and U.S . Navy weapon scientist. They also have showed their appreciation and support Americans in different ways. They donated over three million dollars to families of the September 11 Terrorist Attack and with their new generations joined fighting in Irag. They contributed a half million dollars for the Hurricane Katrina Fund, Overseas Vietnamese voluntary set up their own relief center in Houston for immediate help to Vietnamese victims of Katrina.
Overseas Vietnamese people extend their voices to create awareness that 31 years after the communist takeover, the people of Vietnam still do not have Human Rights, Religious Freedoms and Democracy.
Vietnamese Today’s Vision (VNTV) is the voice of overseas Vietnamese in American, televised internationally. Its main support is the VNTV Ohana.
Led by Ms. Nina Nguyen and advised by Professor Nguyen Van Canh, VNTV Ohana is Hawaii Advocacy group which has been instrumental in the coordination of the Memorial Day, Vietnam Veterans Candlelight Ceremony, the Honolulu City Council Adoption of Resolution 04-72, CD-1, recognizing the Republic of Vietnam Flag, as the Culture, Heritage and Freedom Flag of the 8,000 Vietnamese-Americans in Hawaii, and the deciding voice before the Hawaii State legislature Public Hearing to successfully defeat legislation aimed at the adoption of a Sister State Relationship between Thua Thien-Hue Province and the State of Hawaii, because of the Communist continued support of the Trafficking in Person, and the lack of Religious Freedom.
Today’s dedication of a Memorial Plaque is the culmination of work, effort and contributions from the Vietnamese expatriates on the US mainland and in Hawaii. Their purpose is the recognition of the bond between the American Vietnam Veterans, the allied nations of Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, the Philippines and the Kingdom of Thailand who stood shoulder-to shoulder with the People Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces and the People of Vietnam in their fight against communism around the world.
This is the first Overseas Vietnamese Memorial Monument to have been placed in any National Cemetery of The United States of America.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
By Loren Moreno Advertiser Staff Writer
Baldo Patterson, a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars, placed a wreath representing the Disabled American Veterans at the base of a new memorial plaque dedicated by Vietnamese expatriates to honor all U.S. forces and their allies that fought during the Vietnam War. DEBORAH BOOKER | The Honolulu Advertiser Thirty-one years after the fall of Saigon, Vietnamese expatriates yesterday dedicated a plaque at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in tribute to U.S. military forces, along with those of allied nations, who fought side by side with South Vietnamese armed forces. The event marked the first time that a memorial plaque donated by overseas Vietnamese in honor of U.S. armed forces has been placed in a national cemetery, said retired Col. Gene Castagnetti, director of the cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. "The war ended 31 years ago today. But I would submit to you all, there is no statute of limitations on honoring and recognizing that the Vietnam veterans of both nations — and our allies, who were in a combined purpose — were there for a noble cause," Castagnetti said. More than 300 people, including local Vietnam veterans and Vietnamese expatriates from around the country, attended the Punchbowl dedication ceremony. The plaque was paid for with donations made by the overseas Vietnamese community and Vietnamese TV (Today's Vision) Ohana on behalf of the more than 1 million Vietnamese expatriates living in the United States. "We are here today because you protected us when we were in Vietnam," said Nina Nguyen, the head of Vietnamese TV Ohana, the local affiliate of Vietnamese Today's Vision, which is televised internationally. Nguyen recalled being airlifted by U.S. forces out of Saigon five days before the South Vietnamese capitol fell to the communists. "This is our thank-you note to all Americans who helped us and continue to help us," Nguyen said. Nguyen Van Canh, director of the Center of Vietnam Studies in San Jose, Calif., is a member of the nine-person committee that helped establish the memorial plaque. He said it recognizes the efforts of veterans who helped fight communism in Vietnam. "This is to commemorate all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for freedom in Vietnam," he said. Retired Adm. Richard Macke of the Navy, the event's keynote speaker, recalled the day Saigon fell. "I would venture to guess that on this day, there is another ceremony of sorts being held in Ho Chi Minh City, but certainly not in the same genre or same aura as it is here today," Macke said. "This was not the proudest day in American history, nor for the people of the Republic of Vietnam, yet it is a day marked by many historic and heroic actions." During 18 hours culminating on the morning of April 30, 1975, more than 1,000 Americans and more than 7,000 Vietnamese were flown out of Saigon, Macke said, and 2,000 Vietnamese orphans were evacuated in Operation Baby Lift. Rona Adams was then a nurse with the 44th Medical Brigade in South Vietnam who participated in helping lift orphans out of the country. She praised the Vietnamese expatriates for their recognition of Americans who served in Vietnam. "It means a lot," Adams said. "It was probably the most worthwhile thing I've ever done in my life." She added, "This is a recognition for all of us who were over there. It was so late in coming, but it is a wonderful, wonderful recognition. But better late than never." Vietnam veteran Bob Kent, who served with the 25th Infantry Division, said he is pleased that vets are receiving recognition. "When we first came back from Vietnam, we couldn't even wear our uniforms. At that time they were demonstrating against the Vietnam veterans," Kent said. "This is the first time we're really being recognized with a plaque other than the memorial in Washington, D.C." Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.