ASHLAND — Kim Phuc Phan Ti was 9 years old when a photo of her became symbolic of the Vietnam War.
The photo, snapped by Nick Ut in Vietnam in 1972, showed Phuc running down the street, naked, after a Napalm bombing in Trang Bang, Vietnam.
Napalm, a highly flammable liquid, was commonly used in the Vietnam War. It causes severe skin damage, disfigurement, loss of function and in some cases, even has neurological affects.
The iconic image helped capture the horrors of the war and also earned Ut a Pulitzer Prize.
But for Phuc, the photo only serves as a piece of her story.
After the war, Phuc was used as a propaganda tool by the Vietnamese government. In 1986, she left Vietnam for Cuba, where she was trained as a pharmacist and met her husband. In 1993, she and her husband were granted asylum by Canada, where they still live today.
Get tickets to the Ashland County Vietnam Era Veterans Recognition Dinner
Tickets cost $15, and the event has limited seating.
The committee has already sold 160 tickets for this year’s event, but encourages everyone to donate.
To secure a spot, you can call 419-289-1454. You can also visit the DeSanto Kellogg Law Office at 432 Center St. to get a ticket.
She became a UNESCO Goodwill ambassador, wrote an autobiography called “Fire Road” and founded the KIM Foundation International.
According to its website, the organization aims to help heal wounds suffered by innocent children during war.
Phuc also speaks about her experiences — and one of her next speaking stops is Ashland.
She’ll be the distinguished guest at the Ashland Vietnam War Era Reunion Dinner at the Ashland Eagles March 29 at 5 p.m. Ashland Eagles is located at 400 Eastlake Drive.
‘I’m gonna be a survivor’
According to Bob DeSanto, who helps plan the event, this is the first year since the Vietnam War Era Reunion Dinner began that a veteran won’t be the featured speaker.
“Here’s where I think she’s a real benefit to the community: There’s a lot of people who suffered trauma, whether they’re an adult or a kid,” DeSanto said. “To see somebody who has survived it and made a decision to make a difference and overcome her trauma — which, she has.
“She kind of made a decision, mentally, that I’m no longer going to be a victim. I’m going to be a survivor. And that’s a message that could resonate with a lot of people who’ve been traumatized, whether they be a veteran or a kid,” he said.
Phuc will also speak to Ashland County high school students while she’s in town.