May Song Vang facts for kids
May Song Vang (born February 5, 1951 – died August 5, 2013) was an important Hmong community leader and activist in the United States. She was the wife of General Vang Pao, a well-known Hmong American leader who passed away in 2011. After her husband's death, May Song Vang became an even stronger symbol for the Hmong American community, especially in California.
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Early Life and Education
May Song Vang was born on February 5, 1951, in a small village called Phou Dou in Laos. She was the fourth of thirteen children in her family. Her father wanted girls to stay home, but May Song Vang bravely decided to go to school. She studied at Sisawavong Medical University in Vientiane. She worked hard and became a midwife, a nurse, and a physician assistant. Because she got an education when many girls in her country could not, she was called a "pioneer for women."
A Leader for Her Community
May Song Vang first met her future husband, Vang Pao, while she was helping injured soldiers. They got married in 1973. After big changes happened in Laos in 1975, May Song Vang and Vang Pao moved to the United States. They first lived in Montana before settling in California.
Many Hmong people looked up to May Song Vang and Vang Pao as leaders who helped them start new lives in the United States. May Song Vang was especially seen as a kind and helpful leader by the Hmong community in California's San Joaquin Valley. This area is a big center for Hmong American life. Even though she lived in Orange County, California, May Song Vang traveled to the San Joaquin Valley often for more than twenty years. She went to Hmong cultural events and other activities. She always told students to stay in school and go to college. Her motto was: "Education is the key to success."
Continuing Her Husband's Legacy
General Vang Pao passed away in 2011. As his wife, May Song Vang took on an even bigger role in helping the Hmong American community. She helped solve disagreements and problems among people.
In 2012, she attended the special opening of Vang Pao Elementary School in Fresno, California. May Song Vang played a huge part in getting this school built. She led a project to collect 20,000 signatures to name the elementary school after her husband.
May Song Vang also started the General Vang Pao Foundation in 2012. This foundation, based in Fresno, helps Hmong families who are facing financial challenges.
Later Life and Passing
May Song Vang passed away from cancer on August 5, 2013, at the age of 62. She had been diagnosed with cancer in 2005. She was survived by her three sons and seven grandchildren.
A traditional Hmong funeral was held for her in Fresno. More than 25,000 people came to honor her life. Many people saw May Song Vang as one of the last major Hmong leaders from the time of the Vietnam War.
