The Foundation would like to take this opportunity to address the Monument’s opposition led by Garden Grove resident Robert Harrison and a few other individuals, in collusion with various political opponents, whose members are abusing their organizations’ names and mission statements to carry out their own agendas.
And now, after months of lobbying and cajoling a number of individuals in the Vietnamese community, Mr. Harrison is claiming that the community is against the monument, citing that 17 veteran organizations have come out against it. Some of which have submitted letters to you tonight.
What type of entities are these? What status are they in, and who are managing them? The deception falls apart with just a simple check on their legal and tax filing status with the California Secretary of State and the Franchise Tax Board.
A background vetting of these 17 Vietnamese groups, which also include a community group with a grand-sounding title headed by a Mr. Phat Bui, another Garden Grove resident and an avowed opponent of Council members Tri Ta, Kimberly Ho and Charlie Nguyen, reveal a disturbing reality with at least two thirds of these groups. According to reports from the California SOS and the FTB, seven groups out of the 17 are either listed as “dissolved” or “suspended”, including the group Bui currently heads. Another four could not be found anywhere with these agencies and are likely not registered with the state authorities.
And most comical, one of the named opponents of the project and another Garden Grove resident, Mr. Richard Bui Dep, listed himself as representing not one, but three different groups of Vietnamese veterans opposing the project, all at the same time! Two of these groups are not even registered and have no legal standing with the state.
This opposition is driven by misplaced passion, emotion, personal grudges, and jealousy. It is no secret that Phat Bui, a political ally of Bob Harrison, is an established opponent of several members of the Foundation Board. It is also a known fact some key members of these local ARVN groups are sympathetic to an ill-fated campaign to recall Mayor Ta, councilmembers Nguyen and Ho in the 2020 Westminster Recall Election. They were defeated in the Recall campaign and failed again in unseating these three councilmembers less than seven months later in the 2020 November election.
These ARVN groups have recycled old allegations that the Foundation had repeatedly addressed, in detailed writing, on the air waves, and also in direct conversations with these individuals. Incredibly, six months after the monument is approved and three months before its completion, they now come out to oppose its construction! This action is reckless. The construction of the Quang Tri Victory Monument is fully contracted and the vendors are busy finishing it, moving full-speed ahead as permitted by law. The city council had unanimously approved this project over 6 months ago. The Foundation is slated to unveil this monument on September 18, 2021, less than three months from now and, in time for the 49th anniversary of the ARVN Victory in Quang Tri. Any 23rd-hour attempt by anyone, or any organization, to politically interfere or disrupt with the construction and unveiling of this historic structure, is unacceptable. The Foundation and its numerous supporters and sponsors will not sit idly by, and will take any and all action necessary, legal and political, to protect this project from falling victim to political gamesmanship from anyone.
However, the Foundation continues to make an effort to reach out to any critics to impress upon them that this monument project is much more important than any one group or individual, and that they should shed their factional biases and personal grievances, and join hands in the common effort to build this monument. The Foundation has its doors open to supporters and opponents alike, and constructive ideas to improve this project are always welcomed. The true bravery of ARVN soldiers must be told. The community expects no less. And the next generation deserves better.
Thank you for your time.
# # # # #
No comments:
Post a Comment