A personal project of Mayor Frank Fry--a...

A personal project of Mayor Frank Fry--a memorial featuring South Vietnamese and American soldiers--has drawn protests from the Vietnamese general consul. In a recent letter to Fry, Consul General Phong Xuan Nguyen wrote that the monument “would only dredge up a bitter past of U.S.-Vietnam relations that both sides have decided to leave behind.”

Countered sculptor Tuan Nguyen: “We’re doing the right thing. I believe that this will bring healing between the communities. This will be a landmark for the Vietnamese and American communities.”

Activist Van Thai Tran said the Vietnamese community supports the monument, adding that he considers the letter from the consul is “wholly inappropriate.” “I find it peculiar that a Vietnamese foreign diplomat should get involved in the domestic affairs of a local municipality like Westminster,” he said. Fry agreed: “It’s none of their business.”

The monument will cost about $500,000; so far, $1,000 has been raised and another $100,000 has been committed by various sponsors, Fry said. No city money is involved.

A model of the monument will be presented at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.