San José Unveils “Thank You America” Monument at the Vietnamese Heritage Garden
Following a groundbreaking in May, City and community leaders come together to speak to their shared vision of what the longstanding community space can represent for the Vietnamese community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2024
Media Contact:
Seamus Gann, Communications Specialist, Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
408.838.7664 [email protected]
SAN JOSÉ, CA - City, County, and State leaders came together to unveil the “Thank You America” Monument over the weekend at San Jose’s Vietnamese Heritage Garden. The unveiling ceremony featured a flag salute of both the U.S. and Republic of Vietnam flags, a memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers and a traditional ritual presided over by the venerable Thích Pháp Hạnh & Father Lê Trung Tướng. Hundreds of community members attended the event to witness the unveiling and hear from elected leaders on the significance of this monument and the heritage garden itself.
“I’m thrilled to see the ‘Thank You America’ monument standing tall in our Vietnamese Heritage Garden, honoring the American and South Vietnamese soldiers who fought to uphold democracy,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “This marks the beginning of a new era for a space that pays homage to the journey that thousands of families took to find a better life here in America.”
“The ‘Thank You America’ monument is a powerful testament to the strong bonds between our Vietnamese-American community and the broader San José family. Honoring the bravery and sacrifices of American and South Vietnamese soldiers, I know it will stand as a reminder of the resilience of those who sought a better life here,” said Senator Dave Cortese (D-15). “I'm proud to have been part of this journey dating back to my time on the San Jose City Council, and I look forward to seeing the Vietnamese Heritage Garden flourish as a vibrant cultural hub for our community.”
The statue depicts two soldiers to represent both the United States and the Republic of Vietnam. Installing a statue to pay tribute to both U.S. and South Vietnamese soldiers has been a goal for 20 years, and this weekend’s installation marks an important milestone for the long-underutilized Vietnamese Heritage Garden. $150,000 was allocated during the Fiscal Year 2023 - 2024 budget process to prepare for the statue’s installation and begin work on grading, drainage, creating a defined walking path, tree planting, installing benches, irrigation and vegetation.
“I am extremely excited about the historic monument at the Vietnamese Heritage Garden. It acknowledges our deep and abiding friendship with our Vietnamese-American community,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez.
"Monuments stand not just to commemorate the fallen, but to remind us of the cost of war and the pursuit of freedom. This monument represents those who have lost their lives during the Vietnam War, for the cost of freedom and democracy,” said Councilmember Bien Doan (D7).
The monument will serve as a centerpiece for the Vietnamese Heritage Garden, which will eventually be home to cultural performances and educational programs to recognize the past and current contributions of the nearly 130,000 of Vietnamese residents who call San José home. Photos from the event are available here.
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About the City of San José
With nearly one million residents, San José is the largest city in the Bay Area and one of the nation's most diverse and creative. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center in the heart of Silicon Valley has resulted in the world's greatest concentration of technology talent and development.