General Vang Pao Memorial Unveiled At Fresno Fairgrounds

On Tuesday, December 27, 2012, the Hmong International New Year Foundation (HINYF) commemorated the life of the late Phagna Norapamok General Vang Pao by immortalizing him into a monument. Located at the Fresno Fairgrounds, home of the annual California Hmong New Year, the memorial is now a permanent fixture at the Fresno Fairgrounds and can be viewed by any visitors all year round.

In attendance of the unveiling were thousands of people, including numerous community members, local and national media outlets, military dignitaries, and various Hmong people of influence. Blong Xiong, City Councilman of District 1 in Fresno stated that, “What [Vang Pao] was willing to do to move an entire community…it means a great deal. From my perspective as a Hmong [person] but also from the elected official side, I feel we have recognized [Vang Pao’s] contributions.”

The memorial depicts a statue of younger Vang Pao, sitting and smiling amongst replicas of vessels from the famous Plain of Jars in Xiengkhouang, Laos, home to the infamous Hmong military base Long Cheng. This memorial is said to symbolize General Vang Pao’s love for the Hmong people and his patriotism to the United States.

“It stands for freedom and democracy, the God-given rights that all human beings have simply for being human. Vang Pao fought for these rights and therefore his legacy will always be equated with these rights,” the HNIYF said in a statement for their official event program. The memorial is also meant to be an educational piece for both younger Hmong generations and the community as a whole.

John C. Alkire, CEO of the Fresno Fairgrounds and the Big Fresno Fair, has donated the space to honor the late General, picking up the majority of the costs to have him commemorated. Alkire, who has worked in partnership with the annual event for the past 12 years, was the person to initially allow the memorial, stating that the Hmong International New Year Foundation has demonstrated great leadership in organizing the annual cultural celebration. “[I] have enjoyed working with the HINYF. This celebration is critical in preserving the Hmong culture, language, and heritage—educating not only the Hmong youth on their heritage, but educating the community on this rich culture,” Alkire said. “We felt it was only proper [that] we gave the General a large amount of recognition here.”

“There is irony in human life that sometimes you have to die in order to live forever,” said Silas Cha, writer for the biography of General Vang Pao featured in the Hmong International New Year’s official event program. “General Vang Pao surely achieved immortality when he passed away earlier [in 2011].”

By Elizabeth Thao

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