Hundreds attend April 30 Richmond ceremony
A mass is held in the St. Ignatius Catholic Parish Hall. (Photo: TiVi Tuan-san) RICHMOND – Hundreds of people have attended a mass held in Melbourne’s inner-east suburb of Richmond on Saturday evening, to pray for the perished soldiers and allies who fought for the Republic of Vietnam’s freedom during the Vietnam War and for those who died trying to flee the country.
The ceremony at St. Ignatius Catholic Parish Hall was led by parish priest and former army Lieutenant Huy Viet Nguyen.
South Vietnamese war veterans were also present at the ceremony, dressed in their army uniforms.
The service began with the national anthem of the Republic of Vietnam, followed by the Australian national anthem and a moment of silence.
The flags of the Republic of Vietnam – yellow field with three horizontal red stripes – were hung in the front-centre of the hall and outside the gates of the church accompanied with the Australian flag.
April 30, 1975 marks the date of the official end of the Vietnam War.
– TiVi Tuan-san
