SR 2020

Commending the Eden Center.
Agreed to by the Senate, June 22, 2026
WHEREAS, for more than 40 years, the Eden Center in Falls Church has played a unique role as the heart of the vibrant Vietnamese American community in Northern Virginia; and
WHEREAS, the Eden Center traces its deepest roots to the growth of the Vietnamese community in the Commonwealth after the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, an event that marked the end of the Republic of Vietnam and the conclusion of the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, after what became known as “Black April,” thousands of Vietnamese refugees settled in Northern Virginia, leading to the creation of community hubs, such as Little Saigon in Clarendon; and
WHEREAS, in 1984, the Eden Center was established in Falls Church and quickly became the cultural heart of the Vietnamese American community, allowing local residents and visitors to find traditional Vietnamese cuisine, clothing, art, jewelry, and other items; and
WHEREAS, today, the Eden Center supports more than 120 businesses, many of which were founded by the original Vietnamese immigrants who came to the Commonwealth after Black April and are still owned and operated by their descendants; and
WHEREAS, the Eden Center hosts numerous community events, including celebrations for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, Tet, as well as commemorations of Black April and the Fall of Saigon; and
WHEREAS, April 30, 2026, marks the 51st anniversary of Black April and the Fall of Saigon, providing an opportunity to reflect on the important role the Vietnamese American community has played in the growth of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That the Eden Center hereby be commended for its legacy of service to the vibrant Vietnamese American community in Northern Virginia; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Eden Center as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for the Vietnamese American community's decades of contributions to the Commonwealth.