HR0233 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0233 LRB103 32053 MST 60976 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On April 30, 1975, Saigon, the capital of the Republic of Vietnam, popularly known as South Vietnam, was overthrown by the North Vietnamese army, and the Republic of Vietnam was dissolved; and

WHEREAS, Vietnamese and Americans worked together to organize the largest helicopter evacuation in history from the United States Embassy in Saigon, helping over 7,000 people, including 5,500 Vietnamese, leave within 24 hours; and

WHEREAS, Further operations supported by Americans that spring, summer, and autumn helped approximately 125,000 Vietnamese refugees leave their country, and the eventual creation of a refugee program with the assistance of the United Nations helped over 500,000 Vietnamese people immigrate to the United States; and

WHEREAS, Vietnamese American communities annually commemorate the Fall of Saigon, known as "Black April", in order to recognize the sacrifices of those in their communities who fought in defense of the ideals of democracy, freedom, and human rights; and

WHEREAS, Over the past half century, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people have settled in the United States and have worked to build vibrant communities that contribute to the rich diversity of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has its own vibrant community of Vietnamese and Vietnamese Americans, including refugees who helped establish a "Little Saigon" neighborhood in a corridor along Argyle Street in Chicago's Uptown area, building businesses and social service organizations; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois community of Vietnamese and Vietnamese Americans has grown over the past half century from just hundreds of people to between 30,000 and 40,000 today; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the contributions of Vietnamese and Vietnamese Americans to the United States and their values of upholding human rights, freedom, and democracy and recognize the sacrifices made in order to support these values, including losses of family, home, and life; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the courage, dignity, strength, and resilience of Vietnamese refugees who were forced to flee their home to escape persecution and rebuild their lives and recognize the need to build empathy and understanding for the plight of refugees; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge all Illinoisans to take time to learn about the history and contributions of Vietnamese and Vietnamese American people to Illinois and the United States.