[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10629]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE 34TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FALL OF SAIGON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2009

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today 
to recognize a day of great historical significance to my constituents 
and this nation.
  On April 30, 1975, the city of Saigon fell to communism. This day was 
a somber day marked by hardship and loss of life for both Vietnamese 
and Americans. Thousands of people fled Vietnam by boat from the late 
1970s to the mid-1980s. One half of those who fled by boat did not 
survive the journey.
  Indeed, many Vietnamese-Americans come from a line of brave folks who 
left an oppressive regime to search for freedom. Citizens of Vietnamese 
descent form a key, politically active group of Americans. They truly 
know the meaning of the term ``American,'' and they value freedom, 
democracy, and liberty.
  My constituents, as part of the Vietnamese Community in Virginia, 
Washington DC, and Maryland, will commemorate the 34th Anniversary of 
the Fall of Saigon on Saturday. And so, Madam Speaker, it is with great 
pride that I submit into the Congressional Record a statement of 
recognition of this historic day.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the significance of 
this day.

                          ____________________