Gerald Kleczka: “I support H. Con. Res. 88, the National Lao-Hmong Recognition Day, and praise the proud heritage of the Lao-Hmong people…”

“I support H. Con. Res. 88, the National Lao-Hmong Recognition Day, and praise the proud heritage of the Lao-Hmong people who reside in my district and throughout the United States. The Hmong are originally an agrarian people that were scattered across parts of China, Laos, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Hmong that now reside in the United States came mainly from Laos as refugees following the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, the Hmong were recruited by the CIA to provide the U.S. with reconnaissance and guerrilla-combat support for military actions in the country of Laos. They were so trusted and effective that they were relied upon to undertake rescue missions to save downed American pilots and protect our military installations. The Hmong are remembered by the Vietnam veterans that they fought beside as loyal, courageous fighters who prevented many American casualties. Following the United States withdrawal from the region of Southeast Asia, the Hmong people were targeted for persecution by the communist Pathet Lao government in Laos, mainly due to the support they had provided our nation during the war. Many of the Hmong people recall this persecution of systematic imprisonment and killing, leaving them with awful memories of bloody violence and the deaths of loved ones.”