THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PAYTON, CALTAGIRONE, HARPER, KIRKLAND, MILNE AND SIPTROTH, JUNE 24, 2010

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 24, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage Flag as the

official flag of the Vietnamese American Community.

WHEREAS, The United States is among the freest and most

democratic countries in the world, and its citizens have the

liberty to use other symbols, crests and flags to represent

their groups, organizations, clubs and ethnic or cultural

heritages; and

WHEREAS, The Vietnamese American community has chosen to be

represented by a flag symbol that is meaningful to the

Vietnamese heritage; and

WHEREAS, Over the past ten years, many schools, universities

and local municipalities have displayed flags to represent the

diversity that exists in their populations; and

WHEREAS, The display of the current flag of Vietnam is

objected to by Vietnamese Americans because hundreds of

thousands of Vietnamese lost their lives and families in the war

and at sea in their struggle to seek freedom and escape from the

retribution of the Vietnamese Communist Government, which the

current flag represents; and

WHEREAS, Dating back to 1948, before the existence of the

former Republic of Vietnam, the Vietnam Freedom and Heritage

Flag has a long history in Vietnam and is a symbol of

resilience, freedom and yearning for democracy that is deeply

rooted in the cultural heritage of Vietnamese Americans; and

WHEREAS, As long as the current Vietnamese Communist

Government continues its totalitarian rule without respect for

civil and human rights, Vietnamese Americans will practice their

constitutional rights of expression by choosing the yellow flag

with red stripes, known as the Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage

Flag, to represent Vietnamese heritage and as a symbol of

freedom for the Vietnamese American Community; and

WHEREAS, As of the 2000 United States Census, this

Commonwealth is home to more than 30,000 Vietnamese Americans

who have made positive contributions to this Commonwealth

through taxes, business establishments and cultural enrichments;

and

WHEREAS, Acknowledging the Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage

Flag will honor Vietnamese Americans and signify a profound and

humane gesture for all citizens of this Commonwealth; therefore

be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage Flag as the official flag of the

Vietnamese American community.