(2005-05-14) Lao Veterans of America, Inc. & Center for Public
Laos, Lao Veterans of America National Recognition Week Events Conclude: U.S. Congressional Reception held, 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in Laos commemorated in Washington, D.C.
Lao Veterans of America, Inc.
Washington, D.C. Liaison Office
611 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E., Suite 381, Washington, D.C. 20003
Tele. (202) 543-1444 Fax (202) 318-0266
_____________________
Laos, Lao Veterans of America National Recognition Week Events Conclude: U.S. Congressional Reception, 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in Laos commemorated in Washington, D.C.
For Immediate Release:
Washington, D.C., Friday, May 13, 2005
Contact: LIAISON--Ms. Anna Jones, Paul Vang, Ms. Xoua Kue (202) 543-1444 or
Mr. Zong Vue Vang (559) 252-3921
fax (559) 252-3901
A week-long series of official events were concluded today by Lao and Hmong veterans in Washington, D.C. to mark the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in Laos. The national events included veterans memorial services and official public ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam War Memorial and the U.S. Congress where a U.S. Congressional Reception and Commemorative Ceremony was hosted by the Lao Veterans of America, Inc.
Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Lao-Hmong scholar and author, former Vietnam War correspondent and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, stated: “We are gathered here in Arlington Cemetery next to the eternal flame of President John F. Kennedy under whom the Laotian and Hmong forces fought in the Lao ‘Secret Theatre’ of the Cold War. Here in Arlington National Cemetery in view of our nation’s capitol, we gather to remember the Lao and Hmong military forces, and their American advisors, who also served honorably under Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. We are here to remember the tens of thousands of Lao and Hmong soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in defending freedom and their homeland …the Kingdom of Laos.”
Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt went on to say: “We all know that freedom has its price and that there is honor in fighting against tyranny. Here today we remember those who gave their lives trying to stop the take over of the Kingdom of Laos by communist forces with their brutal, tyrannical and inhumane policies.
As we bow are heads in remembrance, we thank particularly Colonel Wangyee Vang, Philip Smith, Grant McClure and others responsible for this historic monument in Arlington National Cemetery dedicated to the fallen Lao and Hmong heroes as well as this special 30th year memorial event,” concluded Dr. Hamilton-Merritt.”
“If I close my eyes, I can still see the soldiers and the helicopters around me in Laos and remember the days and nights of terror, fighting the invading North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao Communists to defend our beloved homeland,” remembered Colonel Wangyee Vang, President of the Lao Veterans of America.
Colonel Wangyee Vang, founder and president of the Lao Veterans of America, Inc., convened the following events to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in Laos:
- Laos policy conference and pro-democracy, human rights, and religious freedom press conference in front of the Lao Embassy in Washington, D.C. regarding the emergency crisis in Laos in support of H. Res. 402 which passed in May of last year, 2004;
Official Lao and Hmong veterans wreath laying and memorial ceremony at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., in cooperation with counterpart American veterans organizations whose members served in Laos during the Vietnam War;
Arlington National Cemetery official wreath laying ceremony and U.S. armed forces color guard presentation at the monument to the Lao and Hmong veterans, and their American advisors, in Arlington Cemetery. A U.S. armed forces bugler played tribute on his trumpet, and the song “Taps,” in honor of those Laotian and Hmong soldiers and civilians who served with the United States who were killed in the Vietnam War in Laos;
U.S. Congressional Reception and Commemorative Ceremony in Congress which included the participation of over a dozen Members of Congress and U.S. Congressional offices; the U.S. Congressional Reception and Lao-Hmong veterans ceremony to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in Laos was hosted by the Lao Veterans of America (LVA) and the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA). It was held on Wednesday, May 11 , 2005, in 121 Cannon House Office Building, U.S. House of Representatives. Ethnic Hmong and Laotian veterans and their refugee families, who served in the U.S. Secret Army during the Vietnam War, will participate and attend.
The U.S. Congressional Reception and Lao-Hmong Veterans Ceremony in Congress commemorated the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in Laos and honored the Laotian and Hmong veterans, and their American advisors, who served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Participation included Members of Congress as well as ethnic Laotian and Hmong veterans and their refugee families from across the United States. U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA), Ed Case (D-HI), Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and other Members of Congress and the U.S. Senate participated and spoke.
Other speakers and participants included: Colonel Wangyee Vang, President, Lao Veterans of America, Inc (LVA); Philip Smith, Executive Director, Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA); Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Laos and Hmong Scholar; Bounthanh Rathigna, President, United League for Democracy in Laos, Inc. (ULMD); Houmphanh Rattanakhom, Free Laos Campaign; Dr. Kayasith Rattanavongkoth, President, Lao Association of Washington, D.C. (LAWDC); Mr. Kingsavanh Pattamavong, Lao Community of Washington, D.C., ; Houmphanh Rattanakhom, Free Laos Campaign; Dr. Nkajlo Vang, Lao-Hmong Community of Minnesota; Tong Vue, Lao Veterans of America, Inc.; Mike Benge, Counterparts Military Advisors Association; Thongchanch Boloum, (ULMD); and, others.
Delegations of ethnic Laotian and Hmong veterans and their refugee families will participate from California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Alabama, Michigan, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, New York, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Virginia and from across the United States.
SPONSORS: Cosponsored by Members of Congress, the Lao Veterans of America, Inc., the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA), and others.