Saturday, May 11, 2013

The Hmong Honor Their Dead

Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia | Chuck Kennedy/MCT

The Hmong, Vietnam Era Allies, Honor Their Dead From A Long-Ago War -- McClatchy News

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va. — The old Hmong veterans stood at ragged attention, in a cemetery whose soil is still closed to them.

Many lifetimes ago, in the Vietnam War, they had fought alongside U.S. forces. Now, they are grandfathers, resettled refugees living in places like California’s Central Valley. They gathered Friday, a little platoon’s worth, to commemorate what came to be called the secret army in the Kingdom of Laos.

“We would like to remember our friends, who lost their lives defending freedom,” said Wangyee Vang, president of the Fresno, Calf.-based Lao Veterans of America Institute. “When we were all alive, we promised to remember each other.”

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My Comment: And we honor them here tonight.

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