july 30, 2003

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BOSTON RECOGNIZING

THE VIETNAMESE HERITAGE AND FREEDOM FLAG AS THE

OFFICIAL SYMBOL OF THE VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN

COMMUNITY OF BOSTON

Offered by Councillors Maureen Feeney, Michael Flaherty, Stephen Murphy,

Jerry McDermott, Maura Hennigan, Michael Ross, Paul Scapicchio, John Tobin,

Felix Arroyo, Rob Consalvo, Chuck Turner, Charles Yancey & Jim Kelly

WHEREAS: There are a significant number of Vietnamese-Americans who have chosen to make the City of Boston their home; AND

WHEREAS: Boston’s Vietnamese-American community have made substantial contributions to the cultural, religious, political and business life of the City of Boston; AND

WHEREAS: The vast majority of Boston’s Vietnamese-Americans embrace the yellow and red-striped Heritage and Freedom Flag as the symbol of the Vietnamese-American community; AND

WHEREAS: This yellow flag with three red stripes is widely embraced because of its long history as a symbol of resilience, freedom and democracy both in Vietnam itself and Vietnamese-American communities throughout Boston and elsewhere; AND

WHEREAS: Boston’s Vietnamese-Americans and the City of Boston have proudly raised this Heritage and Freedom flag alongside the flags of the City of Boston and the United States on Boston City Hall Plaza as a demonstration of their support for freedom and democracy in their country of origin and in protest to the violations of basic human and civil rights of the current government of Vietnam; NOW THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED: That the Boston City Council supports the recognition of the Heritage and Freedom Flag as the official symbol of the Boston Vietnamese-American community and to know that we stand in strong support of their efforts to promote freedom and democracy in their country of origin; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED: That the Boston City Council encourages the continued display and respect of the Heritage and Freedom Flag on Boston City Hall Plaza and on all city owned buildings and places when appropriate and we encourage other cities and towns and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to do the same; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED: That the Boston City Council opposes any actions or statements that would offend Boston’s Vietnamese-American community that contributes so much to the vitality and stability of our neighborhoods.

By:

Michael F. Flaherty

President of the City Council

Attest:

Rosaria Salerno

Clerk of the City of Boston