Sheboygan Hmong Memorial facts for kids
| Location | 901 Broughton Drive Sheboygan, Wisconsin  United States |
|---|---|
| Beginning date | 2004 |
| Opening date | May 2010 |
The Sheboygan Hmong Memorial is also known as the Lao, Hmong and American Veterans Memorial. It is a special place that honors the brave Hmong people from Laos. They helped the United States during a time called the Secret War. This war happened from 1961 to 1975.
The memorial is located in Deland Park, right by Lake Michigan in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Sheboygan has one of the largest Hmong communities in the United States. The memorial was officially opened on July 15, 2006. Sheboygan was one of the first cities in the US to welcome Hmong people seeking safety in 1976. This was after a communist government took over in Laos.
What is the Hmong Memorial?
This memorial was built to honor all the Hmong who fought against communism. It has 24 special panels. These panels are dedicated to the soldiers of the Hmong Secret Guerrilla Unit Army. They fought against the North Vietnamese Army in the Secret War. The memorial also honors all the regular people who helped during that time.
In June 2010, a painted centerpiece was added to the memorial. It is a green circle with traditional white needlework designs.
The Secret War Explained
The "Secret War" was part of the larger conflict in Laos. During this time, the Hmong people secretly helped the United States. They fought against the spread of communism in their home country. Their bravery and sacrifices were very important.
Acknowledging Their Service
For many years, the United States did not officially talk about the Secret War. This changed in 1997, when President Bill Clinton was in office. This recognition happened because Hmong people and members of Congress pushed for it.
Later, in 2004, the US government changed another important policy. Before this, they had made it hard for Hmong people who fled Laos in the 1990s to come to the US. After a lot of effort from different groups, the US government finally recognized about 15,000 Hmong people as those needing safety. This made it easier for them to move to the United States.
