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Recognition Book General Vang Pao Monument 2 GVP MONUMENT DEDICATION CEREMONY March 28, 2016

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Recognition Book General Vang Pao Monument 2 GVP MONUMENT DEDICATION CEREMONY March 28, 2016 San Joaquin County Fairground Stockton, California March 28, 2016 general vang pao monument recognition book general vang pao monument 2 GVP MONUMENT DEDICATION CEREMONY March 28, 2016 8am – 11am Guests Arrival 11am – 1pm Programs • Unveiling Remarks by LFCE President & GVP Monument Chairman • Unveiling the GVP Monument • Veterans salute GVP Monument • Candle lighting • American National Anthem • Lao National Anthem • Speech by LFCE President & GVP Monument Chairman • Speech by SJC Fairgrounds President • Speech by the Sculptor • Speech by Stockton City Official(s) • Speech by San Joaquin County Official(s) • Speech by State Official(s) • Speech by Federal Official(s) • Speech by Mr. Galen Beery • Speech by Chao Khamlouang Nokham • Speech by Thai Official(s) • Speech by Edward J. Szendrey • Speech by Colonel Vang Thai • Speech by President Nom Tshuas Vwj • Speech by President/Sponsor Pobtsuas Thoj • Speech by Sponsor Michael Thao • Speech by Mr. Wachong Vang son of GVP • Song of GVP - “Kuv Haiv Hmoob” • Closing Remarks by LFCE CEO/GVP Monument Vice Chair/MC 1pm – 4pm Programs • Thank you/Recognition by LFCE CEO/GVP Monument Vice Chairman • GVP Video Documentary • Announcement of Hmong Grave Desecration Committee • Late Lunch • Closing Remarks by Chong Blia Neng Lo/Board Member general vang pao monument 3 the general vang pao monument By Dr. Cheuyengther Xiong ecause of General Vang Pao’s leadership during the BVietnam War, the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds Board of Directors have provided a space at the Fairgrounds for Lao Family Community Empowerment and the Hmong community to build a monument to honor him and to remember the sacrifice that the Laotian people, mostly the Hmong, made during the War. uilding a world class public monument recognizing Bthe Hmong and one of their historical figures is a challenging process. It takes a lot of time and effort to carefully design a concept that will be meaningful now and in the future, research the appropriate material that will retain its beauty for future generations, identify the sculptor who will do the best job, plan and organize fundraising efforts to build the monument, and make tangible the timeless vision of a live and powerful statue that truly represents the history, contributions, and impact of a historical figure. he General Vang Pao (GVP) Monument was Tdesigned with this perspective in mind so when future Hmong generations see the monument, they will be reminded of General Vang Pao’s desire for and commitment to their success; and when others see the monument, they will learn of the contributions of the Hmong and General Vang Pao. People will see that GVP was not just a military leader but a civilian leader as well as a father who worked tireless on behalf of the Hmong people in many ways. He played critically important roles in encouraging and providing leadership, economic, and educational opportunities, in addition to social mobility to the Hmong people and others in Laos and the United States. general vang pao monument 4 the general vang pao monument he GVP monument will consist of a beautifully Tsculpted ten feet tall full-figure bronze statue of GVP standing on a four-sided six feet tall granite base. There will be three bronze relief panels on the base and a granite wall behind the General. One relief panel will be on the right side, one relief panel will be on the left side, and one relief panel will be on the front of the base. he General will be with U.S. officials in military Tuniform on one relief panel providing a brief description of the role and responsibility that the U.S. asked the General and the Hmong to take on during the Vietnam War. The General will be sculpted in civilian attire with a Hmong individual on another relief panel. In this panel, there will be a brief description of his contributions to the Hmong people in the United States after the Vietnam War. On the last relief panel, the General will be sculpted wearing traditional Hmong clothing, General uniform, and civilian attire meeting with President Nixon. This last relief panel will briefly describe the General’s life as a Hmong child, his passion for lifting the Hmong people out of fear and discrimination, and creating opportunities for the Hmong people and others, as well as his road to becoming a revered General. general vang pao monument 5 the general vang pao monument he beautiful ten feet tall full-figure bronze statue of the General will Tbe in civilian attire. He will be dressed as such because, although he spent about 15 years of his life as a military leader and General, he spent the rest of his life as a civilian leader and father to the Hmong people. His right hand will be extended out to symbolize his love for and continued belief and support of the Hmong people. His left hand will be holding a book to symbolize his quest for achieving and promoting educational opportunities for the Hmong people and others. The book will be titled, “Education is the Key; Knowledge is Power.” These words were chosen because General Vang Pao often used them in his many lectures and conversations with Hmong families and communities around Laos and the U.S. he granite wall behind General Vang Pao will tell three stories. TOne will tell the story of Long Cheng City. Long Cheng was the CIA Headquarter during the Secret War in Laos, and it became the heart of General Vang Pao and the Hmong people. It was where General Vang Pao encouraged and introduced the Hmong and many other ethnic groups to military, civil, economic, and educational opportunities. The other is dedicated to the Hmong soldiers and military leaders who sacrificed their lives with the General from 1961 to 1975. The last one is dedicated to the Hmong people who could not leave Laos with the General after the Vietnam War, and who have suffered and are still suffering for their role in aiding the United States during the War. n Laos, particularly in Military Region II, he built schools, sent teachers and, in some cases, military Ileaders to teach Hmong children, built roads to Hmong villages, and created educational and economic opportunities for the Hmong people as well as others. After he resettled in the United States, GVP created organizations to help the Hmong adjust to life in the United States and traveled throughout the United States to meet with Hmong families and communities encouraging them to embrace the American ideals of freedom and democracy. He inspired with a vision of hope, offered his unwavering support, and emphasized the importance of education. The GVP monument with all its components will not only tell the story of General Vang Pao and the Hmong people during and after the Vietnam War, but will inspire the Hmong people and others for generations to come. general vang pao monument 6 president cheuyengther xiong LAO FAMILY COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, INC. Good Morning. Distinguished guests, families, and friends, I want to thank all of you for being here today. We are here to honor our great father General Vang Pao and to remember his leadership, service, and the sacrifice that he made for us to be here today. This amazing monument represents that, and it would not be possible without the support of many people. I want to thank the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds for providing this space for Lao Family Community Empowerment and the Hmong community to build this monument. Without their generosity, we would not have a home for this monument. Thank you for their support and partnership. I want to thank Paula Slater, our Sculptor, for the remarkable work that she has done in crafting this monument. We have a stunning world class monument because of her. Paula, you are not only a sculptor of this monument, but you are a great friend and family member of the Hmong family. Your kindness and skillful abilities in building this monument will remain in the heart of the Hmong people. I want to thank our donors, sponsors, and supporters for their kindness and support. Their support has built a history to remind our future generations of the sacrifice that General Vang Pao and our veterans made for us to be in the United States and other countries. Finally, I want to thank the General Vang Pao Monument Committee Members and Advisors for their hard work and commitment in making this monument a reality. Today is a day of honor. We gather today to remember our great father General Vang Pao and our veterans who sacrificed their lives during the Vietnam War and thank them for their service and their willingness to give up their lives so our lives can be better. Our people are educated, prosperous, and live in peaceful countries such as the United States because of General Vang Pao’s leadership. We have the opportunities to become educators, doctors, lawyers, business owners, and leaders because General Vang Pao and our veterans sacrificed their lives to build a bridge across the oceans for us to be here. We must keep this history and tell it to our children and future generations, so they know why we came to the United States and other countries. We must cherish our history for our children. We must teach our children to cherish their history and be proud of being Hmong. This magnificent monument tells General Vang Pao’s great leadership, legacy, service, and sacrifice to the world. With this monument, his spirit lives on. Every year, we should come here to remember our history and our loved ones who we lost along the way.
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