Uncovering Controversy

A Vietnam War memorial to honor the collaboration of South Vietnamese and U.S. soldiers will be unveiled Sunday in Orange County’s Little Saigon, but organizers say more money is needed to complete the project.

The 10-foot wax statue shows two men in military uniforms standing side by side. It still must be bronzed, which will be done in November, said Craig Mandeville, a member of the executive committee. Plans also call for a 5-foot concrete base and a computer display of soldier information and Vietnam War history about the U.S. and South Vietnamese armies.

Hundreds are expected to view the work of local artist Tuan Nguyen, which will be on display for about a week at the Vietnamese Broadcasting Center at Magnolia and McFadden avenues. The event includes a film presentation of “The Soldiers in Our Eyes” and a guided exhibition.

“People should go see it because it would heal us and bring us closer,” said Nancy Fontaine, a former member of the executive committee.

The idea, conceived two years ago by Westminster Mayor and World War II veteran Frank Fry, united a fractured Vietnamese community, which raised most of the $530,000 in about a year. But observers said tensions later grew as community groups competed to claim credit for raising the money and City Council members angered the Vietnamese community after deciding to relocate the project away from City Hall. And now that the statue is near completion, Fry said, an estimated $200,000 is needed to erect it in a vacant lot across from the Westminster Civic Center.

Cost of Improving New Memorial Site

“The money would’ve been sufficient had we not moved,” Fry said.

The higher price tag has enraged some contributors, most of whom are members of Orange County’s Vietnamese community.

“The price was $500,000 to build and that amount was raised, but now they need more money,” said Hoai My Vu, who volunteers on the project and co-hosts a Vietnamese language radio talk show. “This is such a big difference in price, so people are little bit upset and uncertain.”

Fry said the extra money is required to improve the site where council members voted to put it. The field is about 65,000 square feet, full of potholes and in need of leveling, compared with the less than 5,000-square-foot space at the Westminster Civic Center. That will allow the base of the project to expand from 30 feet in diameter to 50 feet. Committee members said additional money is needed to landscape and to put in a walkway, underground utilities and a built-in microphone system.

Mandeville is thrilled that the memorial will make its debut, and hopes people who see it will feel that the cost and efforts to date have been worth it.

“For those who work so hard and dedicated $5 or $500, we want to show them that their money is well spent,” Mandeville said. “And for those skeptics, we’re hoping to bring them along.”