[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20768]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF LOI NGUYEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 25, 2007

  Mr. WALSH of New York. I rise today in tribute to Loi Nguyen, 
respected leader of the Syracuse Vietnamese Community. Sadly, Mr. 
Nguyen passed away on July 8th, 2007, after a long battle with liver 
complications.
  Mr. Nguyen was a true patriot and an exemplary citizen. He fought 
valiantly alongside U.S. troops in Vietnam as a battalion commander in 
the South Vietnamese Army, suffering 10 years in a Communist re-
education camp for aiding Americans. Along with other South Vietnamese 
soldiers who helped the U.S., Mr. Nguyen was allowed to immigrate into 
the United States, and moved to the Syracuse area in 1990. He began to 
assist refugees from Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations in 
learning to drive, find jobs, learn English, and register to vote. He 
led the Vietnamese Community of Syracuse and the Vietnamese Veterans, 
and worked tirelessly to build a sense of community and improve 
conditions in Syracuse's North Side, where many Vietnamese immigrants 
live. One of his crowning achievements, Mr. Nguyen was instrumental in 
the development of the Franciscan Vietnamese Freedom Garden, which will 
serve as a green space for residents of the North Side, and also as a 
symbol of community.
  Mr. Nguyen's leadership, his patriotism, and his concern for others 
have benefited his community greatly. He fostered a better 
understanding and sense of community among many different cultures, and 
reminded us all of the significance of what many of us take for 
granted--freedom. Loi Nguyen will be missed, but will not be forgotten.

                          ____________________