[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19609]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      LAO-HMONG DAY OF RECOGNITION

  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today on National Lao-Hmong 
Recognition Day to commemorate those who served alongside the United 
States to protect democracy in Southeast Asia. Since 1995, the day of 
July 22nd has been celebrated as the Nation's official day recognizing 
the commitment and sacrifice of the Lao-Hmong people.
  Beginning in the 1960s the United States recruited thousands of the 
Lao-Hmong citizens to fight against the Communist North Vietnamese 
Army. The United States relied heavily on support from the Lao-Hmong 
units to engage in direct combat with the adversary from 1960 to 1975. 
Although heavily outnumbered, the Lao-Hmong courageously battled to 
disrupt supply flows which ran along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
  In the name of democracy, the Lao-Hmong protected U.S. personnel, 
defended U.S. Air Force radar installations, collected critical 
intelligence about enemy operations, and undertook rescue missions to 
save the lives of downed U.S. pilots. In doing so, the Lao-Hmong lost 
more than 35,000 lives and many more were seriously injured and 
disabled.
  Decades of war separated the Lao-Hmong from their native land. Now 
the Lao-Hmong in these United States can call America their home. The 
great State of Wisconsin has over many years become a population center 
for the Lao-Hmong community. Now citizens of the United States, the 
Lao-Hmong contribute richly to our Wisconsin communities.
  On July 22, 1995, the first National Lao-Hmong Recognition Day was 
celebrated in Denver, CO. This year, in my home State of Wisconsin, the 
city of Milwaukee has been chosen to host the 2003 celebration. The 
purpose of celebrating this historic day is to memorialize the departed 
and to honor the living for their valor in defense of freedom and 
democracy. While acknowledging and respecting the commitment the Lao-
Hmong people gave the United States during the Vietnam War, we are 
honored to celebrate their lives today.

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