RECOGNIZING BLACK APRIL

On 2025-04-29, Representative Derek Tran (D-CA-45) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING BLACK APRIL" in the House.

RECOGNIZING BLACK APRIL

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 71 (Tuesday, April 29, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 29, 2025)] [House] [Page H1691] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING BLACK APRIL (Mr. Tran of California was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. TRAN. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to mark the most solemn time of the year for the people of the Vietnamese diaspora. ``Black April,'' ``Thang Tu Den,'' is not just a solemn day in history, but it is a reminder of the day when we lost everything: our homes, our livelihoods, and our beloved country. It was 50 years ago, on April 30, 1975, that South Vietnam fell to the Communist regime. American troops airlifted 6,000 American and Vietnamese people to safety. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees would follow, most of them boarding boats on uncharted waters, not knowing what awaited them on the other side of the journey. In Vietnam, the conditions under the Communist regime grew more brutal. Many were imprisoned in concentration camps, losing not just their homes but their freedom, their dignity, and, in too many cases, their lives. This is a painful day, a day for reflection, for remembrance, and for mourning. Over 58,000 United States soldiers and more than 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers gave their lives in service. These brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice, and they deserve our continued and unwavering gratitude. We mourn not only those who fought for freedom but the countless innocent lives lost during the war, those who perished at the hands of the Communist regime and the aftermath and the brave souls who were lost fleeing repression on boats. We have no choice but to honor those precious souls who were lost by giving the most we can to this life that we have been blessed with. I share my own story with hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese Americans born to parents who fled our homeland with nothing. Boat people did not let the hardship of the journey define the life that they built in America. We have built communities that are unparalleled in strength, prosperity, and commitment to preserving our history. Mr. Speaker, as we reflect on the past 50 years since the fall of Saigon, we do so in solemn remembrance but in celebration of what we have built together. From the ashes of war, we have risen. We celebrate today the trailblazers who have risen from this legacy: generals and admirals in the U.S. military, award-winning scientists, titans of business, educators, doctors, and artists. Our community has nurtured leaders in all walks of life, turning adversity into opportunity in just five short decades. Many of these people are children of refugees or refugees themselves, and they represent just a few of the countless contributions that Vietnamese Americans continue to make across every sector of society. Our journey from tragedy to triumph has only just begun, and the story of our people will continue to inspire generations to come. As the first Vietnamese American to represent Orange County's Little Saigon community in Congress, I am humbled by the responsibility to carry this history forward. Little Saigon, home to the largest Vietnamese diaspora in the world, is a beacon of hope and a reminder of the resilience that has defined our community. I stand on the shoulders of the Vietnamese leaders in California and across the country who have paved the way for future generations to succeed. I am proud to be the third Vietnamese American ever elected to Congress, following Congressman Joseph Cao of Louisiana and Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy of Florida. I am reminded every day of our strength, our determination, and our unyielding commitment to preserving our history and to ensuring that no Communist regime can rewrite our history. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in not only remembering the hardships we face, but also in celebrating the incredible resilience of the Vietnamese people. Let us honor the lives of those who sacrificed everything for freedom: The United States Army veterans and the veterans of the former Republic of Vietnam. As we commemorate this solemn milestone, let us reaffirm our commitment to the values that matter most: democracy, human rights, and our unshakeable will to be free. ____________________