Whale worship still thrives
The exclusively Vietnamese custom of people in certain fishing villages worshipping whales is certainly not a thing of the past.
DA NANG — A repatriation ceremony for the remains of US serviceman who died during the war in Viet Nam was held at Da Nang International Airport yesterday.
Representatives from the Viet Nam Office for Seeking Missing Personnel, US Ambassador to Viet Nam Michael Michalak and representatives from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command attended the function.
The Vietnamese government representative handed over to the US government representative three boxes of remains, which were recovered during the 100th Joint Field Activities from August to September 2010. The remains were discovered by Vietnamese citizens.
The remains were jointly reviewed by Vietnamese and American forensic specialists who concluded they might be associated with US servicemen who went missing during the war in Viet Nam, and it was recommended that the remains be brought to Hawaii for further review.
Addressing the ceremony, the US government representative expressed deep gratitude and high appreciation for the steadfast humanitarian policy, goodwill and the increasingly efficient co-operation with the Vietnamese government and people. This is the 116th hand over of American missing servicemen's remains since 1973. — VNS
