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In SoCal, Vietnamese Americans mark 50 years since end of Vietnam War
Former members of the South Vietnamese military march into a ceremony held at the Westminster Memorial Park to mark the April 30, 1975 fall of Saigon.
(
Rick Loomis
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)
Topline:
Wednesday marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War. Known as Black April among the diaspora, the event set off a refugee crisis as tens of thousands fled the new regime, ending up in places like Orange County.
The backstory: On April 30th 1975, North Vietnamese troops captured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, effectively ending the Vietnam War. US troops had left about two years earlier.
What's been happening: In the run-up to the anniversary, a stretch of the 405 Freeway was designated as the Little Saigon Freeway . And a post office in Westminster was renamed the " Little Saigon Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Post Office ."
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The day of: The city of Westminster will hold its annual Black April event on Wednesday. Since last week, the city has been flying the South Vietnamese flag at half-staff at the Vietnamese-American War Memorial at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
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