WHEREAS, April 30, 2013, marks the 38th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and the start of the eventual exodus of several million Vietnamese out of Vietnam after South Vietnam's capital of Saigon fell to the communists on April 30, 1975; and
WHEREAS, Throughout America, thirteen states, seven counties and eighty-five cities have adopted resolutions recognizing the yellow and three red striped Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag as the official flag of the Vietnamese-American community; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on April 7, 2008 officially recognized the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag as the official flag of the Vietnamese-American community throughout the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia on January 29, 2004 officially recognized the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag as the official flag of the Vietnamese-American community throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, There is a significant number of Vietnamese-Americans who have chosen to make Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania their home; and
WHEREAS, Flying the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag in Philadelphia is a part of the healing process for our citizens whose families left their homeland of South Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, This City's Vietnamese-American community has made substantial contributions to the cultural, religious, political and business life of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Philadelphia authorizes the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag to be raised and flown at full mast at City Hall on April 30th starting at 9:00 am and taken down at 5:00 pm in recognition of the contributions to the cultural, political, religious and business life of Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Philadelphia recognizes April 30th as Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag Day as a symbol of contributions of the Vietnamese-American community in the City of Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED,
That an engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to the Vietnamese-American Community of the City of Philadelphia, further evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
End