First Hmong-American Day celebrated at Elk Grove Regional Park
In what organizers promise will be an annual event, the first Hmong American Day was celebrated on Saturday, May 14 in Elk Grove, Calif. The event was held at Elk Grove Regional Park.
The event was organized by Marie Vue and Elk Grove Unified School District Trustee Sean Yang. As part of the ceremony, the EGUSD passed a resolution commemorating the day.
Among the speakers were Yang, Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, Cosumnes Community Services District Director Orlando Fuentes, former Elk Grove Mayor Steve Ly, EGUSD Superintendent Christopher Hoffman, and Elk Grove Diversity and Inclusion Commissioner Mia Foster. Along with speakers, guests were entertained with traditional Hmong music and dance.
May 14 is a day of significance for the Hmong diaspora as it was the day the Laotian military base at Long Tieng fell to communist force in the civil war. The Hmong were allied with and fought for American forces battling communists in the so-called Secret War.
“I am grateful that EGUSD Board of Trustees passed this resolution to adopt May 14th as Hmong American Day. With more than 3,000 Hmong Americans in the City of Elk Grove, and over 27,000 in the County of Sacramento, it is a very somber day for Hmong Americans across the nation,” organizer Marie Vue said. “It is also a day for us to remember and honor those who gave their lives to give us the opportunity we have today.”
Below are two videos from yesterday’s ceremony.
