On a crisp, sunny morning recently, workers installed the first of many bright green and white street signs along Bellaire Boulevard to honor the roles of South Vietnamese army generals in the Vietnam War.

The signs at major intersections west of the Sam Houston Tollway mark the new Walk of Honor, a project of the International Management District that recognizes the diversity of the neighborhood and the positive influence of Vietnamese-American residents and businesses in the area.

State Rep. Hubert Vo and District F City Council Member Tiffany Thomas, who serve the area, were among those present as the first signs were hoisted next to a Hong Kong City Mall parking entrance. (Click here for video).

“I’m enormously proud to be here today to finally see this final product and to thank my friend District F Houston City Council Member Tiffany Thomas, Mayor Turner and Congressman Al Green for being part of making this honor happen,” said Vo, who was born in Vietnam. “We have been working together to make this final design happen. I’m grateful to the board members of the International District for joining me here at this milestone.”

Vo mentioned how in the surrounding Alief area, people from across the planet make peace for a better future without forgetting their past and their roots.

The first sign raised remembers Le Van Hung, who served as an infantry general in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Hung was best known as “Hero of Loc.” In 1972 he commanded the 5th Division in defense of An Loc from the coordinated attacks of the North Vietnamese People’s Army of Vietnam in the Battle of An Loc. His forces repelled countless waves of attacks.

“If I’m alive, An Loc stands,” he vowed.

Hung went down with the fall of Saigon, refusing to surrender. He said, “If this general cannot protect his country, he will die with it.”

Council Member Thomas, who has lived all her life in Alief, previously served as an Alief ISD trustee and is adamant that Alief is better because of its distinct diversity.

“Thank you everyone for partnering with us in this inclusiveness. In this city and especially in this district we honor and advocate for individual cultures and those cultures’ heroes,” she said. “I am honored to represent this District that is the epicenter of the Vietnamese and Vietnamese America community in and throughout all of the Houston region.”

“This is the only District in Houston to have a Walk of Honor for our heroes and I am thankful to know we’re doing it here and now in our part of town,” she added.

The generals’ names previously appeared in overhead signs next to the names of intersecting streets. To lessen drivers’ confusion about the street layout, overhead signs in the Vietnamese language were removed and the Walk of Honor was created.

Each new sign includes images of the U.S. and South Vietnamese flags. Near the The Walk of Honor is the Vietnamese War Memorial at Universal Shopping Center, 11360 Bellaire Blvd.

 

— By Burt Levine