Memorial Honoring Vang Pao Unveiled
by Amanda Perez
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The new memorial was unveiled Tuesday on the second day of the Hmong International New Year celebration.
Vang Pao, was a revered former general in the Royal Army of Laos who led thousands of Hmong guerrillas in a CIA-backed secret army during the Vietnam war.
The large jars in the memorial depict a well known landscape feature in Laos called the Plain of Jars.
The sandstone jars are near the main battleground for the Hmong operations during the Vietnam war and now, they're a part of the fairgrounds in remembrance of General Vang Pao.
One year after his death, the mournful sound of taps reminded everyone in the ceremony of their great loss.
General Vang Pao was hospitalized shortly after last year's opening ceremony at the Hmong International New Year and then passed away a couple weeks later.
His death has left a void that can be felt worldwide.
"It can never be filled. No one can ever fill his shoes. But we know his dream and what he us to be. And that's what we try to be," Memorial Committee Chairman Pao Fang said.
The large memorial depicts a well known and mysterious landscape feature in Laos known as the plain of jars.
It also includes information about the Long Cheng military base and the life of the general.
"He fought for the freedom of his people, education for his people, and dignity for his people. And he gave his life for them," Charlie Waters, a friend of the General, said.
The memorial was made possible through a joint effort between the Big Fresno Fair, the Hmong International New Year and other Hmong organizations.
The Big Fresno Fair picked up most of the cost.
"We've been partners with the Hmong community for more than twenty years they've been celebrating their new year's celebration and its the largest celebration of its kind in the united states. So we felt it was only proper we gave the general a large amount of recognition here, and the Hmong people as a whole," John Alkire of the Big Fresno Fair said.
The unveiling ceremony included Hmong veterans and dignitaries, including a general that traveled all the way from Thailand.
All were there to remember the man that gave so much in hopes he will never be forgotten.
This memorial is also meant to be an educational piece for both younger Hmong generations and the community as a whole.
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=8480512(Copyright ©2011 KFSN-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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