The public is invited to join members of the North Texas Vietnamese community as they commemorate Black April Day April 28. There will be a ceremony and parade and other activities. The event recognizes April 30, 1975, the day that South Vietnam fell to the Communists.
Although it is a difficult day, it is a way for the community to recognize and honor the heroes who fell fighting in the war and those who died trying to escape the country.
Various community leaders will be in attendance to help observe this important day.
The schedule is below:
2 p.m. – Reception Check-in / Welcome / Music – Vietnamese Community Center, 3221 Belt Line Road, Garland
3 p.m. – Flag Ceremony / Wreath-Laying Ceremony – Vietnamese Community Center, 3221 Belt Line Road, Garland
3:30 p.m. – Parade – Starts at the VAAC at approximately 3:30 p.m. Travels east on Belt Line Road, south on Shiloh Road, west on Walnut Street, continues north on Jupiter Road just past Ponderosa Drive, then turns right into Oakridge Plaza parking lot.
6 p.m. – Black April Day Ceremony
6:15 p.m. – Introduction of Special Guests – Includes VIP recognitions and acknowledgements
6:30 p.m. – Guests / Keynote Speakers – Special guests share experiences before and after April 30, 1975
7 p.m. – Music / Refreshments – Traditional music, dance and short programs by various groups.
9 p.m. – Closing Remarks
For information: www.congdongdallas.org, Facebook: Cong Dong Dallas, vacofdallas@gmail.com
About VACCGD: The Vietnamese American Community of Greater Dallas was founded in 1984 by its 37 charter members as a nonprofit organization. The main purpose is to assist newly-arrived refugees from Vietnam in their daunting task of adjusting to a totally new way of life in America. Since its inception, countless refugee families have been served, at no cost, by the VACCGD’s caring volunteers. ESL classes, cross-cultural orientation, job referral service, counseling program and so on, have been provided for the refugee families. Additional purposes include maintaining Vietnamese culture and language for the ever-growing community and serving as a communication bridge between the community, local, state and federal governments. Along with tireless volunteers and generous donors like The Meadows Foundation, the VACGD has been led by its formally elected boards of directors, who select community presidents among themselves. The founding community president was Professor Phap Dam, who was succeeded by other capable presidents. While all boards of directors and community presidents have served with distinction, Dr. Tich Truong and Mr. Tuong Nguyen have done the most for our community so far. While Dr. Truong turned the VACGD into a recognized leader among Vietnamese American communities across the United States, Mr. Nguyen was instrumental in the creation of the Vietnamese American Activities Center in Dallas. The current president of the VACGD is Mr. Jason Ly. The VACGD aims to increase the educational programs to meet the needs of the Vietnamese community. We shall expand our services and educational programs that benefit our children as well as activities that help adults live longer and healthier lives; maintain the community building where most of our social events take place.