On the evening of February 28, US time (ie the morning of February 29, Vietnam time), a solemn memorial service for Ms. Merle Everlyn Ratner - a left-wing activist and loyal American friend of Vietnam - was held in downtown New York City.
Representing Vietnam at the Memorial Ceremony were Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung, Ambassador-Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations Dang Hoang Giang and a number of key officials of the Embassy and delegation.
Attending the ceremony in person and online were about 200 delegates who were relatives, comrades, friends, members of left-wing movements, communist parties, workers' parties, Marxist organizations, trade unions, groups protecting workers' rights, groups supporting Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, and many representatives of the Vietnamese community in the US...
In a solemn and emotional atmosphere, the delegates shared and recalled profound memories about the person, life, career and tireless contributions of Ms. Merle Ratner to the cause of fighting for peace, social justice, protecting workers' rights in the US and many countries around the world , especially her loyal love, close affection and great contributions to the country and people of Vietnam.
Speaking at the ceremony, on behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung expressed his deepest condolences at the passing of Ms. Merle Ratner; affirmed that the country and people of Vietnam always remember and cherish her feelings and dedication to the cause of resistance, the struggle for national liberation, national reunification and the development and integration of Vietnam, as well as the journey to seek justice for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.
The Ambassador emphasized that the ideals, life of activities and contributions of Ms. Merle Ratner have become a valuable legacy, a source of inspiration and encouragement for many friends and comrades to follow and continue to promote.
Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the United Nations, expressed his emotion when attending the memorial service, witnessing the warm affection, love and beautiful memories that friends had for Ms. Merle Ratner, especially her great love for the country and people of Vietnam.
According to the Ambassador, the passing of Ms. Merle Ratner is truly a great loss that is difficult to compensate, not only for Vietnam and the Vietnam-US relationship, but also for peace- loving people, the left-wing and progressive movement in the US.
The greatest legacy that Ms. Merle Ratner left behind is optimism, faith in the victory of peace, justice and belief in the bright future of Vietnam and of working people around the world.
Merle Evelyn Ratner, born in 1956 in New York City, has a special love for Vietnam. She took to the streets to protest the US war in Vietnam when she was only 13 years old and is famous for hanging anti-war slogans on the Statue of Liberty.
She is the co-founder and coordinator of the New York area's Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign (VAOR-RC).
After 1975, with a deep love for Vietnam, Ms. Merle Ratner, along with her husband Mr. Ngo Thanh Nhan, made many efforts to promote the normalization of Vietnam-US relations, as well as support many foreign affairs activities of Vietnam and Vietnamese representative agencies in the US and New York.
She has been awarded many noble awards by the Party, State and organizations and unions of Vietnam, including the Friendship Medal, the Medal for the Development of Vietnamese Women, the Medal for Agent Orange Victims, etc.
Ms. Merle Ratner suddenly passed away in an accident in New York City on the evening of February 5./.
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