Laos, Vietnam National Memorial Ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, Vietnam Memorial

May 19, 2008 - PRLog -- The Lao Veterans of America (LVA) and the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA) will hold a memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery and a wreath laying ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in Laos and to honor the Laotian and Hmong veterans, and their American advisors, who served during the conflict ( from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., on Friday, May 16 , 2008, at the Lao Veterans of America Memorial Monument, Arlington National Cemetery).  Participation will also include an official U.S. military joint armed forces color guard, wreath bearer and bugler.

A wreath-laying ceremony will be held from 1:00 P.M.-2:00 P.M. following the Arlington Cemetery events at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.  The events will conclude with a Lao and Hmong veterans’ wreath-laying procession to the apex of the Vietnam Memorial. Hmong and Lao veterans and their refugee families, who served in the U.S. Secret Army during the Vietnam War, will participate from across America.

On Monday, May 19, 2008, meetings and events will be held in the U.S. Congress regarding issues of concern to the Lao and Hmong veterans and their community members.

"As veterans who served in Laos, we have promised our fellow  Lao, Hmong and American veterans who sacrifices, served and died in Laos fighting for the cause of freedom and the defense of our beloved land, that we will always remember them and never forget them," stated Colonel Wangyee Vang, National President of the LVA.

"The monument that we dedicated in Arlington National Cemetery and the tree that we planted 11 years ago to honor and remember  the Lao and Hmong veterans and their American advisors who served in Laos during the Vietnam war is a sacred place and an important symbol of our contributions to the defense of the Kingdom of Laos and U.S. national security during the Vietnam War, " Col. Wangyee Vang concluded.  

Philip Smith, Executive Director of the CPPA stated: “The historic contributions of the Lao and Hmong veterans to U.S. national security during the Vietnam War is important to understand, especially in the context of the larger conflict in Vietnam and geostrategic superpower struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Vietnam War and the Cold War.”

Speakers and invited guests include Col. Wangyee Vang, LVA; Dr. Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Laos and Hmong Scholar; Philip Smith, CPPA and Washington Director, LVA; The Honorable John Barnum, Esq. Former Deputy Secretary of Transportation and Attorney at McGuire Woods Law Offices; Attorney B. Jenkins Middleton, former Vice President, Export-Import Bank;  Ambassador James Lilley, Former Ambassador to the Peoples Republic of China;  Mike Benge, former POW and human rights advocate; Grant McClure, Counterparts; Schuyler Merritt, Research Director, CPPA; Hugh Tovar, former CIA Chief of Station in Laos; Ambassador H. Eugene Douglas, former U.S. Refugee Coordinator during the Reagan Administration. http://www.tragicmountains.org

The events are cosponsored by the LVA, Lao Veterans of America Institute, CPPA, Counterparts Military Advisors Association, Arlington National Cemetery and others.

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Contact:  Anna Jones
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The Center for Public Policy Analysis is a Washington, DC-based think-tank and research organization focused on national security and foreign policy issues.

Website: centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org