CC - Item 5C - Display of the Vietnamese American Heritage and Freedom Flag Request to Display on Valley BoulevardROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BEN KIM, ACTING CITY MANAGER$
DATE: MARCH 22, 2022
SUBJECT: DISPLAY OF THE VIETNAMESE AMERICAN HERITAGE AND
FREEDOM FLAG WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FLAG
ALONG VALLEY BOULEVARD AS A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY
SUMMARY
Every year, the Vietnamese Refugee Community of Los Angeles County request that the City
Council support the Vietnamese American citizens of the Rosemead community by authorizing
the display of the Vietnamese American Heritage and Freedom Flag along with the United States
of America Flag, as a symbol of freedom and democracy, on Valley Boulevard from Saturday,
April 23, 2022, through Sunday, May 1, 2022. The flags' display together is consistent with the
United States Flag Code protocol.
BACKGROUND
For the past several years, the City has authorized the Vietnamese Refugee Community of Los
Angeles County to display the Vietnamese American Heritage and Freedom Flag along Valley
Boulevard in commemoration of the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. This historic event
ultimately resulted in the immigration of tens of thousands of Vietnamese refugees to the United
States, where they have made significant contributions to our community, state, and nation.
The Vietnamese Refugee Community of Los Angeles County is once again requesting
authorization to erect the Vietnamese Freedom Flag on light poles along Valley Boulevard to be
displayed side-by-side with the American Flag, in accordance with the United States Flag Code,
Section 7, which reads as follows: "When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are
flown on equal separate staffs of the same heights. The flags should be approximately equal in
size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace."
AGENDA ITEM 5.0
City Council Meeting
March 22, 2022
Page 2 of 2
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council approve the request of the Vietnamese Refugee Community of Los
Angeles County to display the Vietnamese American Heritage and Freedom Flag side-by-side
with the United States of America Flag along Valley Boulevard beginning April 23, 2022,
through May 1, 2022, in accordance with the protocol specified in the United States Flag Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
All costs associated with the display of the Vietnamese American Heritage and Freedom Flag
will be paid by the Vietnamese Refugee Community of Los Angeles County.
STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
This item is consistent with the City's 2030 Strategic Plan Goal B: Responsive, Inclusive City,
which values diversity to provide quality services that are inclusive and responsive to meet the
changing needs of our diverse community.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Prepared by:
;9—
Ericta'He—mandez, City Clerk
Attachment A: Letter from the Vietnamese Refugee Community of Los Angeles County
Attachment A
Letter Request from the Vietnamese Refugee
Community of Los Angeles County
The Vietnamese Refugee Community Of Los Angeles County
P.O.Box 7694 Torrance, CA 90504
TEL: (310) 381-9629
Email: congdongvnla@yahoo.com * State No. CA 2502787
Mar 17, 2022
Honorable Mayor- Polly Low
Mayor Pro Tem -Sean Dang
Council Member- Sandra Armenta
Council Member- Margaret Clark
Council Member- Steven Ly
Council Member- John Tang
The Vietnamese Refugee Community of Los Angeles County would like to
ask the Mayor and City Councils of Rosemead to support and grant permission for
the Vietnamese American in the city of Rosemead to Commemorate Black April by
displaying the Yellow Flag with Three Horizontal Red stripes as a representation
of the Vietnamese American Heritage and Freedom, which is a symbol of `Freedom
and Democracy in Vietnam". We will hang the flag side by side with the American
Flag on the light post on Valley Blvd and begin at the corner of N Charlotte Ave thru
corner of Mission Dr, from Saturday April 23, 2022, thru Sunday May 1, 2022.
Thank you very much in support of this event. We wish you and your family
all the best. May you always be in the loving hands of God.
Best Regards,
Long Nguyen
Current President