Ceremony marks Saigon’s fall

By Shaun Inguanzo
SOUTH Vietnamese-Australians were in Dandenong on Saturday to remember the fall of both their soldiers and former capital city Saigon during the Vietnam War.
Known as Black April, or the Fall of Saigon, the day is typically commemorated toward the end of April.
Saigon was the former capital of South Vietnam and was taken by opposing North Vietnamese forces on 30 April 1975.
Dandenong RSL’s Vietnam War memorial was the site of the Black April commemoration.
The Springvale Indo Chinese Mutual Assistance Association president Be Ha and Vietnamese community leader Phong Nguyen organised a temporary shrine for the event surrounded by traditional South Vietnamese icons, the red and gold colours of the former nation, and pictures of South Vietnamese military generals.
The Fall of Saigon effectively ended the Vietnam War, and the city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City after a former president of Communist-ruled North Vietnam.
Dandenong RSL treasurer John Filmer told the crowd that the sub branch was aware of their loss.
“We join with you all, as fellow Australians, as comrades in arms, as friends, in showing you respect on this day to all of those who fought for democracy and liberty in the Republic of South Vietnam,” he said.
“The flag under which they fought, under which many of you fought, still flies here today as a mark of respect, and will fly here forever.”
More than 100 people attended the Saturday morning commemoration.