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.
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.
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]
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]
^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." . Archived from the original on 2014-12-04. Retrieved 2014-12-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^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" . Archived from the original on 2015-03-29. Retrieved 2014-12-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^Asian Week (22 May 1997) "Hmong Veterans Want Recognition from Washington" . Archived from the original on 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2019-06-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
cherzong, vang, april, 1943, november, 2012, american, community, leader, from, paul, minnesota, elder, hmong, people, laos, american, community, twin, cities, united, states, cherzong, worked, with, students, including, many, hmong, american, students, paul, . 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 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Hmong Veterans Citizenship Act 3 Arlington National Cemetery Veterans Memorial 4 See also 5 ReferencesLife and career editBorn 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 editCherzong 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 editCherzong 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 See also edit nbsp Laos portal nbsp Biography portal nbsp United States portalReferences edit 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 Smith Philip Lao Veterans of America Inc Washington D C 02 December 2014 http www laoveteransofamerica org Archived 2016 12 27 at the Wayback Machine 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 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 Archived copy Archived from the original on 2014 12 04 Retrieved 2014 12 14 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link 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 Archived copy Archived from the original on 2015 03 29 Retrieved 2014 12 14 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Asian Week 22 May 1997 Hmong Veterans Want Recognition from Washington Archived copy Archived from the original on 2016 02 25 Retrieved 2019 06 29 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cherzong Vang amp oldid 1205809917, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
