Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Consideration of a Request to Install a Plaque at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park.
End
From: Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Jason Gray
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Tammy Huynh, Management Analyst
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Consider the Parks and Recreation Commission’s recommendation to install a plaque at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park to honor the late Lieutenant Ton That Nguyen.
BACKGROUND
In accordance with Resolution No. 5094, duties and responsibilities of the Monuments and Memorials Committee have been reassigned to the Parks and Recreation Commission. These duties and responsibilities include serving in an advisory capacity to the City Council to provide an independent review of all new requests for proposed monuments, plaques, donor tiles, structures, markers, any other memorial, and modifications to existing monuments on any City property.
Staff received a request from Hung That Ton and Ursula Yore, brother and sister of the late Lieutenant Ton That Nguyen, for an 8” x 9” (width x height) bronze plaque honoring Lieutenant Nguyen to be installed at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park, located at 14180 All American Way. The request was presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission at its meetings on September 9, 2025, and November 10, 2025 for review and consideration.
Lieutenant Ton That Nguyen served in the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam. He was born on October 14, 1946. In 1971, after four years of training, he graduated from the Dalat Military School of Political Warfare as part of its second graduating class. Lieutenant Nguyen served in Division 5, 7th Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 9th Company, under the command of General Le Van Hung.
On May 11, 1972, Lieutenant Nguyen was killed in the city of An Loc, Vietnam. At the time, the South Vietnamese government listed him as Missing in Action (M.I.A.) because his remains were not recovered. His family later learned that he had been killed, along with members of his battalion, during heavy rocket fire from North Vietnamese forces and the Viet Cong.
April 30, 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, and 2025 also marks 53 years since Lieutenant Nguyen’s death.
At the September 9, 2025 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, the Commission expressed support for recognizing the late Lieutenant Ton That Nguyen and requested minor revisions related to the proposed plaque design and consistency with existing plaques currently at the Vietnam War Memorial, including size and the style of the plaque corners.
The requesters proposed installing the plaque on the Vietnam War Memorial at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park in the following location:
• Right rear of the statues
• To the far right after the last “In Memory of/In Honor of” plaque
• Existing plaques in this area are approximately 8” x 5.5” (width x height)
The requesters worked with staff to address the Commission’s feedback and provided revised plaque design options. The updated designs were presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission at its November 10, 2025 meeting.
After reviewing the revised designs and supporting materials, the Parks and Recreation Commission supported the proposal and recommended that the request be forwarded to the City Council for consideration and approval.
The approved request is for an 8” x 9” (width x height) bronze plaque with squared corners to be installed in the proposed location on the rear right of the statues.
The requesters will coordinate installation with the Public Works Department.
FISCAL IMPACT
The requesters will be responsible for supplying the proposed plaque and paying for its installation. No City funds will be used towards the installation of the plaque. Consistent with other plaques and monuments in City parks, the City will be responsible for maintenance and replacement if damaged.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The Mayor and City Council should consider the Parks and Recreation Commission’s recommendation for the installation of the plaque to be installed at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park to honor Lieutenant Ton That Nguyen and provide direction or approval.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Parks and Recreation Commission Report dated September 9, 2025
2. Parks and Recreation Commission Report dated November 10, 2025
3. Proposed Plaque
4. Aerial Photo of Proposed Location
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager