ປະຊາຊົນຂອງ ສ.ປ.ປ.ລາວ
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THE LAO COMMUNITY
Our local Lao community is located on both sides of Tampa Bay, Florida thus much of the website and activities on this website pertains to this area. We have close relations with the other groups located throughout the state.
Regionally, other LAO centers are in California, Texas, Minnesota, Washington, Tennessee, Illinois, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Oregon. The majority live in the West, followed by the South, the Midwest, and the Northeast.
The Laotian immigration to the United States started shortly after the Vietnam War. Refugees began arriving in the US after a Communist government came to power in Lao in 1975. The latest population toll is estimated to be over 200,000. Included are the Hmong, a mountainous tribe from that country with their own ethnic designation: Hmong Americans.
The Laotians fought on behalf of the US forces in what was called the “Secret War” against the communist forces, in that region namely the Viet Minh, Khmer Rouge, and the Pathet Lao.
Much was not, and could not be publicized by the press of the actions in Laos, and Cambodia. They all share common relatively fluid borders with Viet Nam but we do occasionally hear stories of the “Air America” pilots and operators and of course the CIA had something to do with the "Secret War”.
The bottom line was this, 50,000 Laotians paid the ultimate price either by death or being imprisoned in the worker camps where they were pressed as slaves for more than a decade after the North Vietnamese won the war in Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam.
You are welcome to read the story of these people, and support us in our quest and a most unusual request for recognition by our House of Representatives to act upon, a simple resolution to recognize that sacrifice.
OUR GOAL IS THREEFOLD:
• To bring forth the history of the Lao peoples and their resettlement in the United States after much sacrifice.
• To bring you into their culture, customs, and some really fun events they offer displaying food, crafts, art and music. Most events are totally family oriented.
• For your support in getting these survivors recognition in Congress with our forthcoming bill to recognize the support they gave us during the Vietnam crisis.
AN IMPORTANT GOAL OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND A SIMPLE REQUEST ...
The LAO peoples don’t want money, land, promises, new cars or special treatment, they just want a simple verbal “ Thank You” from the United States Congress for the work they did to support the efforts of the US Military and the 50,000 LAO lives that made the ultimate sacrifice alongside the American military.
Alan Jacobson
Honorary Board Advisor
PHOTOS BY: RICHARD”ABDUL” JONES, ALAN JACOBSON and by your SUBMISSION