A Renton resident is speaking out to have the South Vietnam flag represent local South Vietnamese refugees.

At the May 19 Renton City Council meeting, Brian Do, said he was speaking on behalf of the South Vietnamese community who reside in Renton — and criticized the use of the Vietnamese flag in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month proclamation and reception the prior week.

Do said he noticed a photo with all the flags representing the community and noticed the current Vietnam flag.

“I don’t recognize it because I am South Vietnamese and that flag represents the takeover of our homeland,” Do said.

Do said he has been a refugee immigrant since 1975, and the flag is meant to represent his culture and heritage.

“I think that was really a misrepresentation of our culture and the people here,” Do said.

Do said he escaped Vietnam as a refugee with the yellow and three-striped flag of South Vietnam, and would rather that flag be used to represent his people. The flag was the national flag of the Republic of Vietnam until the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.

“We were countryless and this is our home now in America. Renton is also our home,” Do said. “Going forward with events, if you are going to include our community and our flag, we have to have the proper flag.”

Mayor Armondo Pavone responded to public comment and said it was not their intent to create an issue and not reflect a specific culture correctly.

“Last week, that was a celebration and certainly, there was no malice. We definitely apologize if there were any ill feelings over a mistaken flag,” Pavone said. “We won’t make that mistake again. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.”

Renton Communications and Engagement Director Laura Pettitt said the city did not display a flag, but used a Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) bunting, which represented 38 total countries, as part of the decor.