Need everyone help in making our Memory Book of "Journey to Freedom"

[Chi Pham]

As you can imagine, organizing the reunion event, the web-site and working on the memory book is a big undertaking, but one well worth the effort. Of course we can't do it alone. We need your help especially on our book project.

We are in process of collecting pictures and materials for our book "Journey to Freedom or Ky Yeu”. We don't just want to have a nice picture book, but would like to turn it into a written document that tells the story of how we all left and survived the trip out of Vietnam on a 20 meter wooden boat in South China Sea. We want to keep it as part of our history of how we risked our lives for freedom so we can share it with our children and grand children. We want to remind our kids of the humanitarian effort that took place and that we are here today thanks to the Wellpark crew to whom we all owe our lives. They gave us a second chance in life and hope when there were no hope left. Hopefully by reading the story of how 346 people survived on a tiny boat stacked up like sardines will help our children appreciate freedom and the many benefits they now take for granted.

We need your help in writing down your thoughts, your memories of the events that occurred 30 years ago and also tell us how you are doing now. In addition we need you to post your and your family pictures of when we lived in Kensington and recent picture. The deadline for the story and pictures is July 15, 2008. We will select them for our memory book.

I hope our collective memories will help our children learn more about how their parents and grandparents began new lives outside Vietnam.

I know we all very busy but please take some time to contribute to our memoir book so we can have something to pass on to the next generation. Chi

[Mike Newton]

Carmel, I just had an email off Christopher Long today. He writes

Mike -

Thank you for your kind message. I wish with all my heart that I could be there with you all but a few things mean that I really don't think we'll be able to join you all.

That said, and only if the opportunity arose, I would be most grateful if you would say a few words on my behalf - and on behalf of many friends who helped out in Kensington in 1978.

Tell them that I am as proud of what they have achieved against all the odds as I was
impressed by the Wellpark crew that rescued them against all the odds. It was a pleasure to have known them for a few weeks or months in London and a renewed pleasure to hear from some of the children now, 30 years on.

With warm good wishes -

Christopher

His articles can be found here

[Carmel Fenton]

Hi
It was Christopher who I thought might have something to add to the book - are you coming to deliver the message !! I will keep trying !!! I'm a little persistent bugger like my Dad !!!