376 Kim Phuc, Address at the United States Vietnam War Memorial (November 11, 1996)
Kim Phuc
Vietnam War survivor
November 11, 1996, Washington D.C.
Dear Friends:
I am very happy to be with you today. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk and meet with you on this Veterans’ Day.
As you know I am the little girl who was running to escape from the napalm fire. I do not want to talk about the war because I cannot change history.
I only want you to remember the tragedy of war in order to do things to stop fighting and killing around the world.
I have suffered a lot from both physical and emotional pain. Sometimes I thought I could not live, but God saved me and gave me faith and hope.
Even if I could talk face to face with the pilot who dropped the bombs, I would tell him we cannot change history but we should try to do good things for the present and for the future to promote peace.
I did not think that I could marry nor have any children because of my burns, but now I have a wonderful husband and lovely son and a happy family.
Dear friends, I just dream one day people all over the world can live in real peace–no fighting, and no hostility. We should work together to build peace and happiness for all people in all nations.
Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this important day.
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Copyright 1996 by Kim Phuc. All rights reserved.
