REFUGEES fleeing Saigon in April 1975 (Flickr/Manhai)

A proposal to honor six officers of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam who killed themselves in 1975 rather than accept the conquest of their nation by Communist forces is on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting of the Westminster City Council.

The “Heroes Monument” project is almost identical to a similar proposal raised by Garden Grove Councilman Phat Bui in 2016. He wanted the monument to be located in Garden Grove Park, but the concept stalled in the city council amid some objections from the community.

Westminster Mayor Tri Ta and Councilwoman Kimberly Ho are proposing to add this memorial to the Sid Goldstein Freedom Park in the Westminster Civic Center. Honored will be five generals and one lieutenant colonel of ARVN who committed suicide on April 30, 1975 as Saigon fell to communist forces.

The monument would be a 10-feet-wide by 8-feet-high concrete panel displaying the pictures and biographies of the six. On the back would be a bronze plaque displaying the names of the mayor and city council members, along with the Coalition of Vietnam Veteran Associations in Southern California. Also listed would be the names of city staff and the architect involved in the project.

Estimated cost of the project is put at $60,000, to be paid for by donated funds.

The council meets in its chambers at 8200 Westminster Blvd. at 7 p.m.