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ARLINGTON, Virginia–The 20th Gala Dinner of the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (NCVA) was about celebrating America as the land of freedom and opportunity, recognizing good work and sharing the limelight. Indeed at a picture-taking, Mrs. Khuc Minh Tho, recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, said, "Wait, I’d like our adviser to join us."

About 200 members across the country attended the gala highlighting the five-day convention, with the theme "Securing Our Future Today." WTTG/Fox5 reporter Sherri Ly, whose mother is Vietnamese, emceed the program at the Hilton Arlington here on September 15.

Ms. Minh Tho of Falls Church, is the president of the Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association (FVPPA). FVPPA helped in "the release of 100 of the longest held political prisoners in Vietnam." It also played a role in the 1989 signing of a US-Vietnam agreement allowing "the resettlement of former Vietnamese political prisoners and their families to the United States."

Freddie Mac received the Corporate Citizen Award for its work in affordable housing and response to the plight of Vietnamese and other Asian Americans after the hurricane disasters. Julie H. Sun said it was "an honor to receive the award on behalf of Freddie Mac." Julie is Freddie Mac Manager of the Strategic Initiatives Industry Relations & Housing Outreach at McLean. The Vietnamese Youth Education Association got the Community Service Award. It has run the Vietnamese Summer School here for 30 years.

The keynote speaker was an inspiration as well. Ambassador Sichan Siv has gone a long way from his dramatic escape from Cambodia–jumping from a truck–to being appointed U.S. Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2001. He has a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University. He said he was sick and hungry, but full of hope" "in starting a new life as a free man" in America. He worked as an apple picker, dishwasher and New York cab driver.

Celebration

U.S. Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D, Guam)said, "You’ve done a great job of coming to America, making this your home and making contributions to our country in a big way." When hundreds of thousands fled to the U.S. after the fall of Vietnam, her husband and then Governor welcomed thousands to Guam. "You have a friend in me," she stressed.

Virginia State Senator Mark Herring (33rd Dist.), read a message from Gov. Tim Kaine, congratulating NCVA’s "20 years of dedicated service" as a strong voice of Vietnamese Americans. Virginia State Delegate Adam P. Ebbin (49th Dist.), presented NCVA with House Joint Resolution No. 546, which he co-sponsored. The resolution cited NCVA for its "leadership role in organizing programs to educate, improve the health, and encourage the participation of Vietnamese Americans in the political process." For more information on NCVA, visit www.ncvaonline.org

Nguyen Ngoc Bich, chair of the NCVA board of directors, welcomed members and guests in brief remarks. Bui Diem, NCVA advisory board chair, spoke in Vietnamese and English, hailing the event as a "family reunion" and celebration. Later, Cuong Hung Van, Gold Winner of the Cincinnati World Piano Competition, performed Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata and Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody. *By Jennie L. Ilustre