On the recordMay 3, 2017
On Sunday we commemorated the 42nd anniversary of Black April and the fall of Saigon. On this day, we are reminded of the pain of losing your homeland and of the sacrifices made in search for freedom. When Saigon fell in 1975, thousands of families were forced to flee their home, and many came to America with nothing but hope and their dreams to keep them alive. Today I am proud to have represented Little Saigon, the largest concentration of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam. Each and every one of them has a personal connection to the sacrifices that their families have made and to the loss of their homes. This shared experience has made the Vietnamese community and culture thrive in Orange County, California. I am honored to represent this community and mourn alongside with them. I am proud that America gave them shelter in their time of need. The U.S. must always be a beacon of hope to those without hope. We must continue to stand up for human rights and religious freedom. ____________________
