ILLUSTRATION of proposed Quang Tru monument.

The journey of a proposed monument in Westminster commemorating the second Battle of Quang Tri in 1972 will now wind through a committee.

At the July 28 meeting of the council, the council took action to redirect control of the project away from its originators, the non-profit Quang Tri Victory Foundation.

The battle, in which soldiers from the Army of Republic of (South) Vietnam, recaptured – along with assistance from American forces – a key citadel is considered an important action in repelling an offensive by the North Vietnamese Army.

However, controversy has arisen over the proposed design, placement and content of the monument. Although the city council gave initial approval at its Dec. 9, 2020 meeting, that approval was been revised to exclude the Quang Tri Victory Foundation from sponsorship and funding of the project.

At that lengthy meeting that lasted past midnight last Wednesday, the council passed a motion that also stated:

• No city funds would be used for the project, other than general oversight by city staff and all funds for the project be raised from the public in partnership with a local non-profit to be named;
• City staff was directed to come back to the next council meeting with a plan on how to raise funds, and
• The creation of a 11-member committee for the project was authorized.

Membership of the committee would consist of seven members who are all ARVN/Republic of Vietnam veterans, one member who was a resident of Quang Tri province, one member who is a descendent of an ARVN veteran, one spiritual leader from Westminster to be selected by the coalition of spiritual leaders and one member from the Emperor Hung Foundation.

Additionally, all members must be Southern California residents and no members shall be a current or former elected official or anyone who is controversial in the community.

The committee would make recommendations to the council about design, content and name of the monument but not determine its location.