On April 23, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation will host the 19th Annual Roll Call of Nations Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, DC. Ambassadors and official representatives from nearly 50 diplomatic delegations, captive nations, and human rights organizations will lay wreaths to honor the memory of the more than 100 million victims killed by communism and remember the 1.5 billion people who still live under communist tyranny. As each nation is called and its representative steps forward to lay a wreath, silence falls across the Memorial. It is a powerful reminder that freedom is never guaranteed…it must be defended.
Last year, over 300 attendees joined us. Prof. Chen Guangcheng, Chinese human rights activist, lawyer, former prisoner of conscience, and VOC’s 2015 Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom, delivered keynote remarks, sharing: “The communist party is a cancer on humanity and the enemy of mankind.”
During this year’s ceremony, we will honor the Viet American Foundation with VOC’s Flame of Liberty Award. The Viet American Foundation is a valued partner in our fight for freedom and curator of the Vietnam: The Truth exhibit at the VOC Museum last year. This award recognizes those who keep truth alive and seek justice for the victims of communism.
At the ceremony, we will hear from Vi Kha Hoang, who escaped Vietnam in 1989 with 13 other people on a small fishing boat, and now serves as principal of a local Vietnamese school, teaching young Vietnamese Americans about the trials his generation endured. His journey from refugee to educator is a testament to what freedom makes possible…and what millions still long for.
VOC will publicly recognize our generous sponsors and members of our VOC Museum Remembrance Society.
VOC has hosted the Roll Call of Nations ceremony each year since our Memorial was dedicated in 2007. It is an incredibly moving event. To see hundreds of allies – ambassadors, witnesses of communism, dissidents, and VOC supporters – all gathered around the Memorial with wreaths to honor the victims of communism, past and present, is very powerful. We hope you can join us.
