Bill Text: PA HR863 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing the Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage Flag as the official flag of the Vietnamese American Community.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)

Status: (Passed) 2010-09-14 - Adopted [HR863 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR863-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 3980
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 863 Session of2010
INTRODUCED BY PAYTON, CALTAGIRONE, HARPER, KIRKLAND, MILNE AND SIPTROTH, JUNE 24, 2010
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 24, 2010
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage Flag as the
official flag of the Vietnamese American Community.
WHEREAS, The United States is among the freest and most
democratic countries in the world, and its citizens have the
liberty to use other symbols, crests and flags to represent
their groups, organizations, clubs and ethnic or cultural
heritages; and
WHEREAS, The Vietnamese American community has chosen to be
represented by a flag symbol that is meaningful to the
Vietnamese heritage; and
WHEREAS, Over the past ten years, many schools, universities
and local municipalities have displayed flags to represent the
diversity that exists in their populations; and
WHEREAS, The display of the current flag of Vietnam is
objected to by Vietnamese Americans because hundreds of
thousands of Vietnamese lost their lives and families in the war
and at sea in their struggle to seek freedom and escape from the
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retribution of the Vietnamese Communist Government, which the
current flag represents; and
WHEREAS, Dating back to 1948, before the existence of the
former Republic of Vietnam, the Vietnam Freedom and Heritage
Flag has a long history in Vietnam and is a symbol of
resilience, freedom and yearning for democracy that is deeply
rooted in the cultural heritage of Vietnamese Americans; and
WHEREAS, As long as the current Vietnamese Communist
Government continues its totalitarian rule without respect for
civil and human rights, Vietnamese Americans will practice their
constitutional rights of expression by choosing the yellow flag
with red stripes, known as the Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage
Flag, to represent Vietnamese heritage and as a symbol of
freedom for the Vietnamese American Community; and
WHEREAS, As of the 2000 United States Census, this
Commonwealth is home to more than 30,000 Vietnamese Americans
who have made positive contributions to this Commonwealth
through taxes, business establishments and cultural enrichments;
and
WHEREAS, Acknowledging the Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage
Flag will honor Vietnamese Americans and signify a profound and
humane gesture for all citizens of this Commonwealth; therefore
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage Flag as the official flag of the
Vietnamese American community.
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