Nhân dịp “Tuần Lễ Tị Nạn” các em lớp 5 trường tiểu học St Monica, Footscray, sẽ đến viếng thăm Tượng Đài Thuyền Nhân Việt Nam và sẽ cử hành nghi thức tưởng niệm những người tị nạn cộng sản đã chết trên con đường đi tìm tự do.
Nghi thức tưởng niệm sẽ được cử hành vào lúc 1 giờ 45 chiều ngày Thứ Ba, 16 tháng 6 tại Tượng Đài Thuyền Nhân VN, trong khuôn viên Jensen Reserve, Góc đường Farnsworth Avenue và Meyers Road, Footscray.
Commemoration service by Year 5 students at St. Monica's Primary School (Footscray)
On a beautiful afternoon in winter, the sky is blue, the Year 5 students of St Monica’s Primary School (Footscray) arrive at the Jensen Reserve for a commemoration service at the “Vietnamese Boat People Monument of Gratitude” to participate in the Refugee Week event.
Gathering in front of the monument, though the sunlight is weak but creeps through the leafless branches and helps to brighten the lovely faces with their shining eyes. Though the sunshine is not strong enough to warm up the atmosphere but probably their presence has brought warmness to the soul of those who perished and to the hearts of those who survive.
Standing side by side, it is was so touching to listen and watch the children when they took turns each read a small paragraph in English then Vietnamese saying who they are, why they were there, to whom they wish to thank for this special event, what they have learnt, of which they express their feelings towards those unfortunates and wish the best for those who are lucky to set foot on this free country.
More amazingly, “Amazing Grace” has been performed by the school choir in two languages as well – English and Vietnamese. Then came the moment of reading a prayer, laying a wreath that has the words “We will remember” on it, and placing flowers on the monument which has brought tears to some. Following are the Australia National Anthem, Vietnamese National Anthem, and One Minute of Silence to commemorate and to pray for peace for hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people who perished in pursuit of freedom.
The commemoration service is part of their (enjoying) learning about the refugee experience and to celebrate the many achievements and contributions that refugees have made to the cultural and economic prosperity of Australia. This wonderful occasion will help the children to share their (ancestors) stories, their understanding and to contribute to building a more harmonized and enriched multicultural community.
Thanks must be expressed to the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the organiser Mrs Maggie Catteral, the participation and support of Mrs. Muriel Alexander, Mrs. Zandra Duncan, the principal Mrs. Karen Colla, other staff, and specially the children for this memorable and emotional ceremony.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A unique group of refugees who were abandoned, shunned and despised in their own country gathered for the first time near the Vietnam War Memorial Thursday for a special ceremony. The sons and daughters of U.S. Servicemen, known as Amerasians, came to pray for the fathers most of them never knew.
They were labeled the children of the enemy-- nothing more than dust, invisible to the people of Vietnam, abandoned by their mothers.
Life was so tough after the war that Congress passed a law in 1987 allowing them to come to the U.S. More than 25,000 resettled here, spread out across the country.
Ky Tran came with nothing. Abandoned by his mother and not knowing his father, Tran wanted a new life. The ceremony near "The Wall" was a way to say thanks.
"The first thing we want to pray for my daddy," said Tran. "We don't know my dad and we think my dad could be dead and on black wall. Right now we don't know his name."
All Tran knows is that his father's name was Phillip. He tried to find him once but failed, so Tran began the Amerasian Fellowship Association hoping to find all of the refugees. So far, he's located about 2,000 sons and daughters.
"During Vietnam War and even after war," said Christopher Crum, a refugee who arrived in 1983. "We could not even go to school and 60 percent of us cannot even read or write in Vietnamese."
Crum was 16 when he came to the U.S., and he's one of the lucky ones. He knew who his father was, but life in Vietnam was unbearable.
Toan Nguyen thinks he was 19 when he came here. He doesn't know his exact date of birth. He never knew his dad, and his mother abandoned him. Life in the U.S., he says, has been a dream.
"I can read a little bit English," said Nguyen. "I got my own business. I'm very happy. I never believed I could do this."
Under threatening skies on a grassy hillside near The Wall, The Fellowship of Amerasians gave thanks. They saluted the flag and sang the national anthem from both countries. They were pleased to be together-- to begin a tradition. To bring attention to the ones left behind.
"There are approximately 500 cases for the Amerasians stuck behind in Vietnam," said Vivian Preziose, VP of External Affairs for the Fellowship. "After the interview they were denied and denied reason why they cannot come to the United States."
The members of the Fellowship have one more dream: Passage of a bill called the Amerasian Paternity Act. It's a law that would allow the refugees U.S. citizenship without having to take the test.
Thursday, 18 Jun 2009
By PAUL WAGNER/myfoxdc: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/061809_refugees_gather_at_vietnam_war_memorial#
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