For centuries, Biloxi has been a melting pot of cultures and peoples from all over the world. This statue of Đức Mẹ La Vang (Our Lady of La Vang), the unofficial patron saint of Vietnam, stands on Oak Street next to the Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church on Point Cadet. This week Vietnamese Catholics worldwide celebrated her feast day. Her effigy is a testament to the Vietnamese community’s vibrant presence on the Gulf Coast, established around the seafood industry in the years after the war.
Our Lady of La Vang
I processed most of these Vietnamese immigrants to this area in the late 70s while working for the State Department.
Interesting. My upcoming book Bycatch features the Vietnamese migrants to the Biloxi area. I’m just trying to find up a little interest before publication. I trust you and the missus are still hanging out in SoCal.