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August 25 One World Day near Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard by
Attorney Joseph Meissner, Friendship Foundation of American
Vietnamese
“What a beautiful statue! What a beautiful lady,” remarked one
observers as she passed along Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard and
encountered the Vietnamese Lady standing so proud and tall in the
Viet Nam Cultural Garden.
“I heard the Vietnam community was installing a marble statute, but
I never expected to see such grace and loveliness,”” remarked
another admiring guest.
“Others,” stated Director Gia Hoa Ryan of the Friendship
Foundation,
“ have told me of similar experiences.”
“Congratulations to the Vietnam Community,” summarized another
Cleveland resident, “for installing one of the most beautiful
statues in all the gardens.”
Some art lovers have even suggested that the Vietnam Garden is
complete with just this one feminine statue of Our Vietnamese Lady.
“However,” Ms. Ryan smiles, “we have more marble statues from Marble
Mountain of Da Nang City to Join the lady. “She is highlighted in
blue and pictured below in all her grace and glory.”
Five additional marble items will join Ms. Vietnam,” promises
Ms. Ryan, “installed in the areas around the main statue.
This article discusses two of these that we are all working hard to
complete and install by August 25, 2024 One World Day. Photos of
these two are included below.
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The first are the Dong son Drums. These were fashioned in the
Tonkin region of northern Vietnam and southern China from 500 BC
onward, even up to 300 BC. Their use then spread throughout the
Southeast Asia islands. One notable example shows a procession
similar to that described in the highly praised Ng?c L? drum. “This
drum varies in that it depicts four sets of men in procession with
feathered headgear, rather than two, as in other drums. Also, each
set comprises three or four people none of whom appear to be armed.
The posture of the men was interpreted as that they were
participating in a dance rather than a military ceremony. “ This can
be interpreted as signs of peace and friendship. If so, this would
fit in with the overall themes of all of our cultural gardens,
namely, accord and harmony.
How were these drums (these come in different forms and decoration)
used and for what purpose? The drums were employed as musical
instruments in parties, celebrations, and festivals. Also they were
considered effective as prayers for rain, for good harvest and
rituals, such as weddings and funerals. They also were used to
signify command in army. They further served as funeral objects and
often symbolized power of tribe leaders. Finally they may have been
used to warn of impending attacks by outside powers and then to
rally the defenders.
The second item is the Map Stone. (Also pictured with this
article.) This shows Viet Nam as one united country with an upper
northern half and a lower or southern half. But these are joined,
rather than separated as during the Viet Nam war which had one North
Vietnam entity fighting one South Vietnam entity, divided by a
demilitarized zone.
Thus the Map stone shows one fused map, signifying that the
Vietnamese people are unified rather than disjointed and in conflict
as during the Vietnam war. It should be noted that all Vietnamese,
of whatever political stripe, wanted a strong and united nation. So
in some way in 1975 when the War ended and both parts were joined,
this was a desired goal of all Vietnamese. Certainly visitors from
all provinces of Vietnam journeying today to Cleveland can find this
stone map as acceptable and satisfactory, despite past conflicts,
which had torn the people apart. .
Our Vietnam Community invites all guests whatever their origins to
rejoice in this union and harmony. Our Vietnamese garden and all its
statues including our stately Miss Vietnam including these statues
glorify Vietnam’s Four-thousand-year-old history and tradition. All
of this will be on display on Sunday, August 25. We invite all of
you and your families to join us for great conversation, some baked
delicacies. and tasty Vietnamese coffee.
We shall feature the ever-popular Passport game with its questions,
art objects, paintings and carvings, and videos. By Giahoa Ryan
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