Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Vietnamese Cultural Center's Candle Vigil

SLIDESHOW: Vietnamese Cultural Center's Candle Vigil adds warmth on windy eve
Photos by Steve Shay: Lee Ducly Bui, Director of the Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle lights incense during the 37th Candle Light Vigil there tonight.

04/30/2012 - While the wind tried its best to blow out some flames Monday night, the 37th Candle Light Vigil at the Vietnamese Cultural Center seemed to offer plenty of warmth, and take the edge off the chilly wind as people remembered the over one million South Vietnamese and the 58,000 American soldiers who gave up their lives during the Vietnam War.

Cultural Center founder, Lee Ducly Bui spoke, lit incense and snapped a few shots of attendees to honor fallen soldiers, and surviving vets.

Dennis Case of Redmond spoke. He said he chose to join the U.S. Coast Guard in 1969 rather than be drafted in Vietnam. He said he was here unofficially, that he did serve in the Coast Guard and Navy for 31 years in the Reserves, and two years ago began working with the VA serving veterans who suffer from the affects of Agent Orange. He helps facilitate claims.

"On a daily basis I am reading the letters from the widows, parents, brothers and sisters and children from those who served in Vietnam," Case said. "Those who did survive may have been taken sick very soon after their service because of their exposure to the Agent Orange chemicals. read more>>>


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