Tears and cheers greet the tribute to immigrant heritage, eight years in the making.

January 2, 2002

By KATHERINE NGUYEN
The Orange County Register

PASADENA -- Amid bursts of applause and oohs and ahhs from the crowd, Madalenna Lai watched her eight-year dream glide by in Tuesday's 113th annual Tournament of Roses Parade.

It was exactly as she hoped: A majestic float carrying symbols of her Vietnamese heritage and, more importantly, a heartfelt message of thanks to America.

"I was shaking with happiness, so full of pride at that moment," said Lai, who, along with others, spent eight years standing outside markets in Little Saigon asking for donations for the $120,000 float. "I couldn't help but start to cry."

She and other float organizers clapped and cheered from the stands.

"The tears just came down," said Lisa Randolph, a float organizer from Garden Grove. "It was like a baby born."

Nearly a million spectators packed the 6-mile parade route while an estimated 350 million television viewers worldwide glimpsed the Vietnamese community's first Rose Parade float entry, titled "Thank you America and the World."

An enthusiastic crowd responded with shouts of "You're welcome!"

Lai had lobbied since 1994 to get a float in the parade but received repeated rejections from the parade committee.

Her persistence finally paid off this year, and she even sold her house to help cover the parade entry and float costs.

The float, in the shape of a boat, symbolized the way many refugees fled Vietnam in 1975. The design incorporated a giant golden bird, lac viet, a creature prominent in Vietnamese mythology.

Volunteers decorated the float with seeds, rice, walnut shells, carnations, mums and, of course, roses.

Seven people in the bright, traditional ao dai dress stood aboard the float showing off their practiced parade waves. The riders included Garden Grove Councilman Van Thai Tran; 1994 National Teacher of the Year Huong Nguyen of Westminster; Director of Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Nam Loc Nguyen of Los Angeles; NASA research scientist Huy Tran of San Jose; 17-year-old community activist Ha Tung; and Pomona Mayor Ed Cortez.

Each has contributed greatly to the Vietnamese community, organizers said.

Councilman Tran said he doubled up on socks and shirts to keep warm in the chilly weather.

"This is very exciting," he said. "It's history in the making for our community."

Many from Orange County's Little Saigon community came to see the float.

Hue Tuan Kieu brought his family of six from Garden Grove. They waved and hopped excitedly as the float came into view.

"Chuc Mung Nam Moi! (Happy New Year)," Kieu shouted to the riders.

"We're very happy to see this float. It is a very special honor and something the entire (Vietnamese) community can be proud about," he said.