Recognizing April 30th as Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag Day as a Symbol of the Contributions of the Vietnamese-American Community in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, April 30, 2017 marks the 42nd 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 Friday, April 28th (in lieu of Sunday, April 30th) to observe the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag Day starting at 10:00 a.m. and taken down at 5:00 p.m. in recognition of the important contributions of Vietnamese-Americans to the cultural, political, religious, and business life of Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

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Recognizes April 30th as Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag Day as a symbol of the 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