[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E57]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE LIFE OF A HISTORIC HMONG LEADER: GENERAL VANG PAO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 12, 2011

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life, service 
and sacrifice of General Vang Pao, who passed away yesterday evening in 
Clovis, California. General Vang Pao was a historic Hmong military 
leader who led his people against communist forces during a turbulent 
time in Laos from 1961 to 1975. In this country, General Vang Pao 
served as a civilian leader who continued to lead the Hmong American 
community for nearly four decades.
  My heart-felt sympathy goes out to General Vang Pao's family and to 
all the Hmong-American families in Minnesota and across the U.S. Over 
the years, I had the honor of joining General Vang Pao at many events 
such as: the Hmong American New Year celebrations and the July Soccer 
Festival celebrations in St. Paul, as he had always come to the Twin 
Cities to join the Hmong community for those events. Most recently, I 
had the great honor of joining him for the grand opening celebrations 
of the Hmong Village Center on the Eastside of St. Paul on October 30, 
2010. Although frail from his failing health and sitting in his chair, 
the General was in good spirit and spoke eloquently to a large 
gathering crowd at the celebrations. Sadly, this was the last time I 
saw him.
  General Vang Pao's influence has touched the Hmong-American community 
deeply, and I know the community will continue to share and cherish the 
memories of his legacy for future generations to come. In honor of 
General Vang Pao's lifetime of service to his people and loyalty to the 
U.S., I am pleased to submit this statement for the Congressional 
Record.