King Edward and Queen Mary School was honoured today to welcome Kim Phuc to address the Senior and Junior assemblies.
On June 8, 1972, Kim's village of Trang Bang came under attack by South Vietnamese planes, which mistakenly dropped napalm on a Buddhist pagoda in an area where the North Vietnamese were infiltrating. While running for safety with other children, Kim was severely burned by the napalm.
The famous photograph of Kim Phuc taken by the Pulitzer Prize winning AP photographer, Huyng Cong Nick Ut, is evidence of the cruelty of war toward child victims, and became a symbol of civilian suffering in the Vietnam War. Kim suffered many years of painful burn therapy, but she always longed to reach out and help other children who were victimized by war.
Her incredible strength and spirit are evident when she speaks about forgiveness and helping children. The Kim Phuc Foundation may have been inspired by her pain, but its focus is on world peace and healing.
In her address, Kim spoke of how her life had changed after that fateful day and how, for years afterwards, she had longed for death as a release from the pain that she suffered daily.
The School was transfixed as she quietly explained how she had come to forgive the people involved in that war and how she wanted people to now view the picture of her, as not that of a little girl screaming in pain, but of a girl calling for peace and love.
She then went on to talk about her work as a UNESCO Ambassador and the work of the Kim Phuc Foundation.
The Parents and Friends Association, which had been instrumental in arranging the visit, wanted to provide an award that recognised bravery in difficult circumstances. The Kim Award was presented to Elizabeth Smart who suffered brain damage as a result of a chronic throat infection, but still makes it into school whenever she is able, as she learns to walk and talk again.
After her talk, Kim answered questions from the floor, and then the assembly listened to ‘A Song for Kim' that has been written in her honour by music teacher Lyndon Hills with words and performance by sixth formers Lydia Bower and Sarah Lenney.
There are rare times in life when the warmth and length of applause by an audience reflects the appreciation they have for the occasion. This was one such time as the school, which had been listening intently, showed their appreciation.
After visiting the Junior School, Kim set off to Old Trafford to meet Sir Bobby Charlton, before continuing her tour of the North West. She will be returning home to Canada at the week end.
Kim at the Butterfly Ball.
