WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia has the largest Vietnamese American population in the Eastern United States; and

WHEREAS, many of these Vietnamese Americans were Vietnamese refugees who have come to Virginia and made Fairfax County their home since 1975; and

WHEREAS, in the past 28 years the Vietnamese American community has been growing and has been contributing to the prosperity of Fairfax County; and

WHEREAS, the former Republic of Vietnam is the country of origin of Vietnamese Americans; and

WHEREAS, the flag of the former Republic of Vietnam is a yellow background with three horizontal red stripes; and

WHEREAS, the flag of the former Republic of Vietnam symbolizes Freedom and Democracy to and represents an important cultural heritage to many Vietnamese Americans; and

WHEREAS, the flag of the former Republic of Vietnam is the only Vietnamese flag recognized by many Vietnamese Americans residing in Fairfax County; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia, that on this day the Board of Supervisors formally recognizes the flag of the former Republic of Vietnam as the heritage flag of Vietnamese Americans residing in Fairfax County.

July 07, 2003