Goodwill Ambassador Delivers Keynote Speech

It’s the charm and grace, in spite of a horrific childhood and steady hardships into adulthood, Phuc carries today that captivates a room, switching between humorous anecdotes and how close she was to being burned alive by napalm in her war-torn home country.

Phuc brought a couple of hundred of people on her harrowing and inspiring journey from the renowned photograph to the person she is today, an international author and humanitarian.

Phuc, the keynote speaker, was one of a trio of women honoured during An Inspirational Evening with Three Women, the Rotary Club of Saint John’s 101st gala event at the Delta Brunswick Hotel on Thursday night.

Joining Phuc in the trio was Judith Irving and Dr. Margot Brunell, both of whom received Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellowship for their exemplary humanitarian work. The fellowship, which honours those who personify Rotary’s motto of Service Before Self, is the highest honour Rotary International can bestow.

Phuc’s speech wrapped up an evening of fine food with a live auction. The now-Canadian citizen started her talk from the day her village was bombed.

She clung to life after the incident, saying she endured 17 surgeries, as she detailed how the flames seared her body and the ensuing emotional turmoil.

When she eventually attended medical school in Saigon, the communist government turned her into a war symbol, she said, parading her around the country and to foreign journalists.    “Suddenly, I became a victim all over again,”Phuc said.

She became consumed with anger until she found solace in Christianity, she said. Through the Bible’s teachings, she said she was able to let go.

“I learned to stop asking,‘Why me?’” she said, saying she turned into hate into positive energy.

“The biggest challenge was learning how to forgive those who caused my suffering.”

Rather than counting the people who hurt her, she began counting her blessings.

Eventually, she attended school in Havana and bit by bit became more enthralled with western culture. She eventually met her husband and moved to Canada to start a new life.

Her scars are still there, but all you could see on Thursday night was her smile.

She used her fame for good, helping others and eventually becoming the UNESCO goodwill ambassador for peace as well as an honorary Rotarian.

“If I can do it, you can do it, too,” she said.

 As for Irving, she has carved a strong humanitarian background with years of charitable work, including organizing the transportation of millions of dollars’ worth of supplies to Haiti after the devastating earthquake struck in 2010.

Among the long list of benevolent affairs and accolades, she is a patron of the Royal Canadian Regiment, a Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian Award winner and a member of the NB Child and Youth advocate board, Champions for Children.

Irving thanked her family and friends for her relentless spirit.

“This approach to life has allowed me to surround myself with positive, optimistic thinkers: my family and friends that encourage me to ask the tough questions, people who challenge me to consider, ‘Why not?’ … people who believe it’s their duty to serve others, people like all of you.”

Burnell has used her expertise to help New Brunswickers the minute she joined the Saint John Regional Hospital in 1986. The clinical department head of oncology has improved the state of cancer care in the region, supporting clinical trial research.

She moved beyond healing bodies into caring for patients’ minds by orchestrating a survivorship program, Stay Strong, with community partners.

Burnell is the chairwoman of the New Brunswick Medical Society health policy and promotion committee and has represented the province on the Canadian Medical Association health-care committee.

She shared the honour with her colleagues.

“I am just one of the many faces of the oncology team. This award really belongs to them for their selflessness and dedicated care to our patients and their families.”