Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Resolution to Recognize the Flag of the Republic of Vietnam and Declaring an Annual Day of Reaffirmation.
End
From: Christine Cordon, City Manager
Requested by: Councilwoman Amy Phan West;
Council Member NamQuan Nguyen
Prepared by*: Christine Cordon, City Manager
*Staff reports prepared by staff on behalf of members of the City Council do not reflect the opinions of staff and are generated in collaboration with the requesting council member(s).
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and City Council consider the request to recognize the flag of the Republic of Vietnam and declaring an annual day of reaffirmation and provide direction to adopt a Resolution entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA, RECOGNIZING THE FLAG OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AND DECLARING AN ANNUAL DAY OF REAFFIRMATION.”
BACKGROUND
This item was requested by Councilwoman Amy Phan West (District 1) and seconded by Council Member NamQuan Nguyen (District 4).
In 1950, the United States government recognized Vietnam’s independence from the French Union, as Vietnam was no longer a part of Indochina as of 1949. Vietnam was recognized as an independent country with its flag at the time depicted as three red stripes upon a field of gold.
Shortly after, the threat of communism in Vietnam became real, the Vietnam War started because genocide was committed by the communist regime. The war was fought for nearly two decades and American and South Vietnamese soldiers’ lives were lost, and Saigon fell to the communist regime in 1975.
Since the fall of Saigon in 1975, Westminster has become home to generations of Vietnamese people outside of Vietnam. Westminster is home to many South Vietnamese refugees, as well as veterans of the American and Army Republic of Vietnam armed forces.
In the past 20 years, the Westminster City Council has been vocal in expressing opposition to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. On February 19, 2003, the Westminster City Council adopted Resolution No. 3750 (Attachment 1), recognizing the flag of the Republic of Vietnam as the official flag of the Vietnamese people overseas. On December 14, 2016, the Westminster City Council formally opposed the displaying of the flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the City of Westminster by adopting Resolution No. 4818 (Attachment 2).
Many current residents of Westminster still have family and loved ones worldwide who are stripped of their basic human rights while living under tyranny and oppression, including the Vietnamese currently living under a communist regime.
Westminster’s unique cultural dynamic has put the city on the map as a place to celebrate and honor the history of the Vietnamese people, but also remember the sacrifices and lives lost during the Vietnam War to fight tyranny and oppression in Vietnam. The culture and history of the Vietnamese people should be celebrated and honored with the flag of the Republic of Vietnam, and not with the flag of the tyrannical regime.
Councilwoman Phan West and Council Member Nguyen recognize the significance of the flag depicting three red stripes upon a field of gold and acknowledge that this flag is the identity of the Vietnamese nationalists and all those who oppose communism. Therefore, Councilwoman Phan West and Council Member Nguyen are requesting that the City Council adopted the proposed resolution (Attachment 3) to recognize the flag of the Republic of Vietnam annually on February 7th as “Vietnam Flag Reaffirmation Day (The Three Red Stripes Upon a Field of Gold)” and fly the flag in front of the Civic Center on this date.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The City Council is requested to consider the resolution. By adopting the resolution, the City Council confirms its commitment and support of the flag of the Republic of Vietnam as a symbol against the communist regime, as well as a statement of support to all those against tyranny and oppression worldwide.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 3750, Adopted in 2003
2. Resolution No. 4818, Adopted in 2016
3. Proposed Resolution for Consideration
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
Christian Bettenhausen, City Attorney
Christine Cordon, City Manager