Cherzong Vang Explained

Cherzong Vang (April 13, 1943 – November 10, 2012) was an American community leader from St. Paul, Minnesota. He was an elder of the Hmong people in Laos and the Lao-American community in the Twin Cities of the United States.^[1]

Cherzong worked with students, including many Hmong-American students, in the St. Paul, Minnesota school system, whose parents came to the United States in the 1970s, 80s and 90s as political refugees fleeing persecution by the Pathet Lao government in Laos.

Life and career

Born on April 13, 1943, in Xiangkhouang Province, Laos, Cherzong Vang was one of the first Hmong educators in Laos, and the United States, and served in the U.S. "Secret Army" and Royal Lao Army in the Kingdom of Laos during the Vietnam War.^[2] He eventually received a master's degree and PhD in the United States. Vang spoke Hmong, Lao, and English.

Vang served as the Minnesota Chapter President of the Minnesota Lao Veterans of America from 1991 until 2003. He was a veterans of the Vietnam War in Laos during the North Vietnamese invasion of Laos.^[3]

Vang died on November 10, 2012, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Hmong Veterans Citizenship Act

Cherzong Vang, along with his brother Colonel Wangyee Vang, was one of the first Hmong advocates for the introduction of the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000 which was eventually passed by the US Congress in 2000 and signed into law by U.S. President Bill Clinton. The legislation granted honorary U.S. citizenship to tens of thousands of Lao- and Hmong-American veterans of the U.S. "Secret Army" in Laos.^[4]

He participated in the founding of the Laos Memorial and its dedication at Arlington National Cemetery on May 14–15, 1997, in Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Virginia.^{[5] [6]}

Arlington National Cemetery Veterans Memorial

Cherzong Vang's life was memorialized at a special veterans' memorial ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery by Lao- and Hmong-American veterans, and their American advisors, in May 2013 in Arlington, Virginia.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Wielgos, Katie, St. Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota), (06 December 2012) "Obituary: Cherzong Vang served Hmong veterans, St. Paul students" http://www.twincities.com/ci_22141917/obituary-cherzong-vang-served-hmong-veterans-st-paul
2. Smith, Philip, Lao Veterans of America, Inc., Washington, D.C.,(02 December 2014)http://www.laoveteransofamerica.org
3. Asian American Press (03 December 2012) "Hmong community leader Dr. Cherzong Vang dies" http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2012/12/03/hmong-community-leader-dr-cherzong-vang-dies
4. Fors, Heather, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota (14 May 1999) "Minnesota Hmong, Lao veterans rally in D.C. for citizenship bill; The measure would allow those who fought for the CIA's secret army during the Vietnam War to take the citizenship test with the help of interpreters." Web site: Archived copy . 2014-12-14 . 2014-12-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141204211449/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62474035.html . dead .
5. Smith, Mary Lynn, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota, (11 May 1997) "Hmong veterans from Twin Cities heading to D.C. to attend tribute; Refugees back bill to ease citizenship requirements" Web site: Archived copy . 2014-12-14 . 2015-03-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150329053743/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62610025.html . dead .
6. Asian Week (22 May 1997) "Hmong Veterans Want Recognition from Washington" Web site: Archived copy . 2019-06-29 . 2016-02-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160225024618/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-3869107.html . dead .
7. Businesswire, Businesswire.com, Washington, D.C., (12 May 2013) "Laos, Hmong Veterans of Vietnam War Honored At National Ceremonies" http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130512005048/en/Laos-Hmong-Veterans-Vietnam-War-Honored-National#.VJH8IHvIev8