1 day Ago
Dear good people of the Quad Cities, Ten years ago, we thanked all of you for your kindness and generosity. Today is the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Kim-Thanh Waters With tears, not only because of the memories of Vietnam, but of the recent losses of our father, our mother, and our loving sponsor, Sally Rylander, I sought out old photo albums; hoping memories of the QC would bring some joy.
Unfortunately, they made me feel sad AND old. Then I found photos from 1985. A friend had asked to join her in the queen contest.
Instead of custom beaded gowns that the contestants wore, I bought my gown from the clearance racks at SouthPark Mall. My parents could not afford custom beaded dresses. They were trying to feed 11 of us.
My memories of that day were the questions. On stage, it was “What’s your favorite book?” "Catcher in the Rye." Before the stage, each judge asked one question.
“Who do you think would make a great president?” Tough question. There was no endless internet news then and, let’s face it, politics. In our house, we religiously did homework, watched Hawkeye basketball, "Adam 12," and "CHiPs.
" Also religiously, we prayed the rosary every night. Yes. Every night.
“Tǎt TV. Ðoc kinh.” “Turn off TV.
Pray.” My answer was that I could not name a person, but I believe a great president must have these qualities (qualities I see in my father and Mr. Rylander): 1.
Military experience — cognizant of the cost of lives in war. (My father fought in two wars to keep Communism out of Vietnam, and Mr. Rylander, the Korean War) 2.
Make tough decisions. (My father uprooted our family when Communists took over North Vietnam. Left everything behind again after the fall of Saigon to flee in a fishing boat.
) 3. They demonstrated selflessness and bravery. (Our boat was adrift at sea after running out of gas.
An oil barge, en route to Guam, dropped down the cargo net and my Dad helped everyone. He kept tying other drifting boats to get on the barge. He pretended not to understand the Americans yelling at him to come up.
He knew if he went up, the people left behind on the drifting boats would die at sea. He risked that they would leave him behind too. We were sobbing in fear as we watched him save others in the rough sea while the small fishing boats kept banging into the big barge and the Americans were yelling since the barge was overcrowded.
Mr. Rylander donated 100 gallons of blood. He’s in construction and has shown up at many disaster areas to help rebuild homes.
) 5. Peacemaker. Trustworthy.
6. Leader In the photo from 1985, my Mom, Dad, Mr. and Mrs.
Rylander were all smiling after I was crowned. I found joy that I had made them happy. My parents expressed they would not return to Vietnam until Communism/ China is out.
Sadly, that did not happen in their lifetime. Vietnam once took 500 years to push the Chinese out in the past. We have 450 years to go.
Four of my siblings have been back to Vietnam. My cousin once removed, Peter, (he’s the grandson to my father’s oldest brother), arrived in Philadelphia from my father’s village to study as a seminarian. My father was able to see his only blood relative since leaving Vietnam almost 50 years ago.
He passed away a week later at the age of 101. Peter will be ordained next month and I will meet his parents from Vietnam for the first time. I see my Dad in my cousin once removed (he does not like the English description of him — why remove me?).
Peter said he sees my Dad in me. That is the best compliment. The Vietnamese call the war the American War.
Vietnam is the third oldest country in the world. We have been taken over by China (three times), Japan and France. I add the United States because American presence has cost many lives just like China, Japan and France and resulted in the Vietnamese fleeing our beloved country for the first time in over 4,000 years on this day 50 years ago.
But there is a silver lining. We ended up in Moline where we have met many kind and generous people; people who have left a lasting impression on us. On this 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, our deepest and most humbled gratitude to all of you in the Quad-Cities.
You bring joy and smiles even on our saddest days. We will see you, gratefully again, in 10 more years. Tǎt TV.
Ðoc kinh. The Nguyen Family P.S.
We have grown from a family of 11 to a family of 53. Who wants to sponsor us now? Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!.
