Memorial Day 2013

Memorial Day is back with us again on Monday May 27, 2013. This is the thirty-eighth Memorial Day since I immigrated to the United States in early May 1975 as a stateless political refugee from the Republic of (South) Viet Nam.

The first few years living in America as a refugee I was so busy working to make ends meet so as not having to be dependent on public assistance. At the same time, I was also trying hard to assimilate to the culture of my adopted country.

Back in those days, my understanding of Memorial Day was simply a Federal Holiday, a long three-day weekend to enjoy with family or friends. While in the process of learning American history and other materials necessary for future citizenship application, I found out Memorial Day is not just a Federal Holiday with a long weekend but it is a sacred annual event.

As an elder American of Vietnamese descent, I have lived my first forty years in my birth country Viet Nam where peace and freedom was a luxury. Fleeing Viet Nam to go to America as a political refugee in 1975 at the age of 40, I am certain I’d not take freedom and democracy for granted like some others. Because I am also certain that peace and freedom is not, or never, free. Someone had to fight and die to protect and preserve these rights for us to enjoy. And they were men and women in the service who made their ultimate sacrifices for our country and for all Americans.

Therefore, Memorial Day became a sacred annual event for all of us to solemnly remember, to pay gratitude and to honor our patriotic American men and women in the military, the heroes of all wars who made their ultimate sacrifices to protect this great nation of ours, our freedom and our way of life.

On this Memorial Day 2013, my family and I join millions other Americans to pay our sincerest gratitude and our highest respect to our fallen American heroes of all wars for their supreme sacrifices. May you rest in peace.

God bless you all.

Hoi B. Tran & family