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| Vietnamese Consul General in San Francisco Hoang Anh Tuan meets with US veterans who fought in Vietnam. |
The reunion not only rekindled memories of war but also sparked a sense of compassion, empathy and aspiration for the future. Coultelville, a small town nestled in the hills of Mariposa, is home to more than 200 U.S. veterans.
After the Vietnam War, many people carried deep psychological wounds, with a haunting name called PTSDn (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome). They chose to find a quiet place in the countryside far away from the bustling world , where time passed slowly and people's hearts were calm. That morning, Coultelville became special. The Coultelville Community House was elegantly decorated. Simple wooden tables were neatly arranged, wild flowers were dotted throughout the room, and rustic dishes were carefully prepared.
The veterans community, led by Jim Rhodes, a veteran who fought in Da Nang in 1967-1968, came together to create a warm space to welcome guests from the country they once fought against. Jim Rhodes shared: "This is not just a meeting. This is a healing journey that we have been waiting for more than half a century."
In a solemn atmosphere, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan shared his own family story: "Today's meeting with American veterans has a very special meaning for me. My father was a soldier in the war. He was wounded in battle. And throughout my childhood, my father prepared me to become a soldier, ready for a long war against America. However, when peace returned, he encouraged me to go to America to study - to understand, to learn and to build bridges connecting the two nations".
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| The reunion not only recreated memories of war but also ignited the light of humanity, sympathy and aspiration towards the future. |
Those emotional words touched the hearts of the veterans present in the hall. Many eyes were red, many tears silently rolled down the faces stained by time. Some veterans came to hug Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan tightly, choking out: "You have brought us hope. Your presence is a priceless gift". The meeting not only recalled past memories but also opened up a dialogue towards the future.
In his speech to veterans, the Vietnamese Consul General in San Francisco emphasized: "Today, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, we not only remember the losses, but also appreciate more the power of forgiveness, the spirit of reconciliation and the determination to build a better future for both peoples."
The Consul General also shared about Vietnam's impressive development journey: from a country devastated by war to a dynamic economy, achieving an average growth rate of over 6% per year. Trade turnover between Vietnam and the United States has reached nearly 150 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam one of the largest trading partners of the United States.
Emphasizing the role of education in the process of connecting the two nations, Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan said that currently, more than 30,000 Vietnamese students are studying in the United States. They not only learn knowledge but also become living bridges connecting the friendship between the two countries. The meeting was also an opportunity for US veterans to express their feelings that have been hidden in their hearts for decades. They shared about the long-lasting nightmares, the psychological trauma that is difficult to overcome and the feeling of loneliness when returning to their homeland.
In response to these sentiments, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan expressed his deep sympathy: "War has divided us, but peace has given us the opportunity to heal. No wound is incurable. No past is too heavy for us to not be able to move forward together into the future." He affirmed that maintaining and developing exchange and sharing programs between Vietnamese and American veterans is necessary, in order to extend the bridges of understanding and goodwill between the two peoples.
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| From a small town in the American West, a message of reconciliation, understanding and building a future together has been ignited. |
As the meeting ended, the atmosphere in the hall became quiet. The firm handshakes and trusting glances spoke a thousand words. In that moment, those who had stood on two fronts found the greatest common ground: compassion and the desire to join hands to build a peaceful future.
A tearful US veteran said: "Today, we are no longer opponents. We are friends, sharing the same dream of a better world." Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan concluded: "From Coultelville today, we have built another bridge of reconciliation. We do not forget the past, but we are committed to the future, with faith, friendship and hope."
The journey to Coultelville was more than just a business trip. It was a journey of compassion, where people who had been on opposite sides of the conflict found common ground. It was also a living proof that no past is heavy enough to stop those who dare to choose to forgive and start anew. From a small town in the American West, the message of reconciliation, understanding and building a future together has been lit, not only for today but for many generations to come.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tu-coultelville-mariposa-mot-ha-nh-tri-nh-ho-a-gia-i-va-hy-vong-312800.html
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