I’m proud to share an article from the OC Register that lifts up the important work of Lt. Cmdr. Chris Phan, who recently received our Walk of Courage Award.
On Wednesday, June 19, we held the Walk of Courage Award Dinner to mark World Refugee Day and present the Walk of Courage Award to Lt. Cmdr. Phan in recognition of his extraordinary accomplishments as a Vietnamese refugee, member of the U.S. armed forces, successful attorney, elected official, and advocate for refugee protection. The Baltimore event, featuring CNN journalist and keynote speaker Brenda Bush-Weeks, honored the journey that refugees worldwide have taken from harm to safety, as well as their leadership in their communities and on Capitol Hill. More than 150 guests from the Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and southern New Jersey areas attended.
The June 26 article by Doug Morino, “Garden Grove Councilman Given Refugee Award in Baltimore,” (paywall protected) explains that “when he was 9, [Phan] escaped oppression in communist-controlled Vietnam, immigrating with his family to Indiana. He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy and was elected in November to a seat on the Garden Grove City Council.”
We’re grateful that the OC Register covered this important event. I was particularly struck by the truth of this quote:
“We are talking to make sure Congress supports funding for refugees,” Phan said. “It’s one thing to say it makes a difference. But to have a former refugee say, ‘Here’s my track record’ lends itself more credibility.”
You can read the entire op-ed by clicking the link above. Please show your support by leaving a comment, promoting the piece through Facebook and other social media, and sending the link to your friends, colleagues, and family.
Once again, on behalf of LIRS, I want to extend our thanks to Lt. Cmdr. Phan for his extraordinary service to refugees!