MCC-Penn Valley’s Campus Center Lobby filled with people Monday, October 1, there to witness the replacement of the Vietnam flag. The flag ceremony was held to take down the official flag of Vietnam, and resurrect the Freedom and Heritage flag in its place.

The flag of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, which had been originally hung, had come with a United Nations flag set, ordered by the College.

"We were contacted by members of the Vietnamese American Community of Kansas City," explained Dean of Instruction, Al Dimmitt. "I was happy to meet with members of the group. The flag issue was, obviously, one around which the Vietnamese Americans had very strong feelings. We needed to hear and understand their concerns."

Alternative Flag

Official Flag

"We learned that the flag of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam represents, to the Vietnamese-American Community, a terribly repressive regime that is responsible for the torture and death of thousands," said Dimmitt.

Once the college learned of this, they opted to hang the Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage flag in its place, which represents democracy and freedom. "Our goal was to honor the diverse backgrounds of our [Penn Valley’s] international students by hanging flags representing their home countries," Dimmitt said.

The flag ceremony that was held to honor the freedom and heritage flag of Viet Nam, proved to be a success for Penn Valley and the Vietnamese American Community. Dean Dimmitt has received over 100 emails since the ceremony, none of which are in opposition to the replacement of the flag of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

"Our goal in hanging the flag set, from the beginning, was to honor members of our community. Changing the flag allowed us to do that; standing firm against the change would have had just the opposite impact. I’m glad we did it," said Dimmit.

For a different view of the issue, see this letter to the editor.

Copyright 2007 Metropolitan Community College