50 Years after Saigon: Vietnamese Stories of a New Home
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
It鈥檚 been 50 years since the fall of Saigon and the end of American involvement in the Vietnam War. One of the most notable outcomes of the fall of Saigon was the welcoming of our allies in Vietnam to find refuge and home here in the U.S.
Operation Babylift, President Ford鈥檚 initiative that evacuated thousands of South Vietnamese children from the country as northern forces took over was the first effort in April 1975. One month later Gerald Ford asked the nation to open its doors to refugees that included families and other allies. In Grand Rapids, the local religious, education and political communities embraced this charge from Gerald Ford. Fifty years later, those refugees continue to build a vibrant and contributing community.
Join us as we commemorate the new lives many Vietnamese were able to forge since April 1975 鈥� around the world, across the nation, and even here in West Michigan.
President and Betty Ford鈥檚 son, Steve Ford, will take the stage during the program. Operation Babylift is one of Steve鈥檚 favorite legacies of his father; he is pleased to be welcoming to the stage Vietnamese adoptee Thuy Williams, an Operation Babylift evacuee who grew up in Portland, Oregon.
Following Thuy, local Vietnamese American panelists will share their stories of building community in West Michigan. Panelists will include:
L峄� Tr岷
Father Peter V农
Alice Kennedy
Duy锚n B霉i
A current East Kentwood High student
Attendees will also be treated to a musical performance from Vietnamese American singers:
脕nh Tr岷
Khoa Mai
Thu-H瓢啤ng Nguy峄卬
C瓢峄漬g L瓢啤ng
Space is limited and registration is encouraged.
All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted.