Update 2.10.26
Things are still on hold with the Operation Baby Lift Altar / Shrine. We head into Tet with hope and happiness for a wonderful New Year!
Update 1.3.26
Thuy with family visiting Chu Sau (homeowner)
Update 10.8.25
Update on the Granite Stele Project 🇻🇳
Hi everyone — just wanted to share a quick update. The granite stele project is currently on hold. When local authorities were asked about next steps, there were quite a few questions about “why now” and “where the funding came from.” After the 2025 anniversary, the site drew a lot of attention — from news outlets and even content creators — which has made things a bit more complicated.
Uncle Sau still wants to do something meaningful, but there’s concern that if the stele is installed now, it might be removed or damaged. He’s considering resurfacing the current shine/temple area instead and possibly placing the names inside for safekeeping.
For now, we’re giving it some time and letting things settle. The funds raised remain with Uncle Sau, and Thuy (Huyen's cousin) continues visiting with offerings and care — we’ll keep providing support where it’s most needed.
This is Vietnam, and we always knew there could be challenges along the way. But we keep doing our best, step by step, with love and purpose. 💛
Hope everyone is doing well — and I still hope to see many of you in 2026! 🇻🇳✨. Aloha, Steve
Thuy providing an offering during the Autumn Festival.
Update 8.28.2025
Thanks to your incredible generosity, we have now raised enough funds to move full steam ahead in preserving the Babylift Memorial site in Vietnam. Your donations are helping ensure that the 138 souls tragically lost on April 4, 1975, will always be honored and remembered within our community.
What’s Next?
-
Collecting All the Names of the Deceased
We’re on a mission to gather and verify the complete list of those who perished in the crash. Every name is a life remembered, and will do our best given some names may not be on official lists. -
Partnering with Uncle Sau to Secure Proper Permits
Uncle Sau (property owner) is leading the effort on-site with his family as well as working with our local correspondent Thuy (cousin of Huyen) who is our main communication on the ground. They are working with local authorities to obtain the necessary government permits so we can officially move forward with enhancements to the memorial site. Decades of his family dedication has made this all possible!
Design Input: What Should We Etch in Stone?
Now that the project is funded and underway, we'd love your help choosing the perfect inscription for the granite stele. Here are the current top contenders:
- “In memory of lives lost, and the love that carried us forward.”
-
From Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh:
“Out of your smile will bloom a flower
and those who love you will behold you
across ten thousand worlds of birth and dying.” - “In memory of the 138 souls lost on April 4, 1975. Their legacy will always be carried in the hearts.”
- Many have also suggested a lotus and a picture of the plane which will be incorporated into drafts to show everyone in early fall.
Which one speaks to you? Or do you have another phrase or poem in mind? We want this memorial to reflect the collective spirit of our adoptee community, our families, and everyone connected to Operation Babylift.
February 2026
There has been discussion on revealing the Operation Babylift Memorial Stele in the month of February 2026 as there are some other adoptee driven projects in the works and some people maybe in HCMC at that time. We realize this maybe a difficult time to travel due to Tết which is February 17th, 2026. One thought is to have a "soft launch" in February and a proper service during the Anniversary on April 4th, 2026.
Why This Matters
In April 2025, the 50th anniversary of Operation Babylift brought adoptees and families together from all over the world to honor and remember. The memorial—the piece of the plane lovingly preserved by Mr. Dang’s family—became more than just a site of remembrance; it became a place of connection. I hadn’t realized how many adoptees would gather there, and many of them I now proudly call brothers and sisters.
Our community matters deeply. As the years pass, I treasure these connections even more—the shared stories, the parallel journeys, and the understanding we carry for one another.
With everyone’s help, we are shaping this into a lasting tribute. One idea we’re exploring is adding a QR code at the site that links to details about the crash, its history, and resources for adoptees, families, and military who were part of this story.
If you have thoughts, questions, or suggestions, I’d love to hear from you. Please email Steve@adoptivethreads.com.
Thank you!
Special thanks to:
Huyen Friedlander of Con Tìm Mẹ and her cousin Thuy
Trista Goldberg of Operation Reunite