Veterans Appreciation & Celebration - Richmond

Please don't forget come and join us for
Thanksgiving Feast tomorrow Saturday
November 22, 2008 at 3pm.
Yiu-Mienh Baptist Church
777 Sonoma St.
Richmond, CA 94805

More information
510-236-5017

Who's the band for this event?

Be our guest Naichan, I'm sure we have good
and plenty of food for you and everyone.
We are looking forward to see you all.

WOW! WOW! Free admission and free foods? I'll be there no time haha meyphan make sure you cook me good food ok! have a good day and god bless my food

Happy Veteran's Day. Please join me to say few words express here to those who serve in the military before and currently are active in the military duty. Your sacrifice means more than the word can describe. Thank you..thank you..

Family and Friends, Please come join us for a
Thanksgiving Feast.

Date & Time: Saturday November 22nd, 2008
At: 3pm
Location: Yiu-Mienh Baptist Church
777 Sonoma St.
Richmond, CA 94805
Free Admission and Free Dinner

More information: 510-236-5017

would it be to late to perform for it? i would like to come down and do a special performance, who ever is in charge would you please let me know asap?

The slideshow idea is great! Hope someone will put this together and hope I can make it as well.

There are so many Veterans at that time... I hope even though there are only a few who are recognized by the Community for their service, please acknowledge those people who helped in some way as a Veteran but belittle themselves to be recognized.

I am so Thankful to each and every single person that helped in some way to achieve The Mission. This include all the Veterans, their family members, friends and strangers who'd open their hearts and home, etc. for the Veterans or did I just imagine this?

We are here because of actions taken by others. Not by luck by The Chance.

:I never want what you have. I built my needs and wants one penny at a time stacked neatly one at a time on top of the other(s).:

為了執宗傳後代 為保瑤人不絕宗
S: wueic liuz nzipc zong zunh hoz doic wueic buv iu-nyienh yaamc zutc zong
M: laaix oix nzipc jienv ganh nyei zong-zei ei-douh bun nqa’haav hingv nyei mienh; laaix oix buv jienv mv bun iu-mienh zutc zong[daic zutc fai daic nzengc]
E: for the preservation of Iu-Mien future generation; and also for the preservation of the Iu-Mien ethnicity-- not letting it to be extinct…

眾朝瑤人不怕死 戰死層層前代人
S: zuangx ziuh iu-nyienh yaamc nziex feiv nzemx feiv nzangh nzangh zinh doic nyienh
M: yietc zungv nyei iu-mienh mv gamh nziex daic; zinh ndaangc nyei ong gux mborqv jaax daic nzangh nzangh yiem mborqv-jaax ciangv
E:… the Iu-Mien were brave and not afraid to die, our ancestors fought and died, and warrior’s corpses piled up in battle fields

Well said Phan Saeng-Yao, thank you Iu-Mien Veterans !

--Camv-Norm Mh Zing Tengx Jienv Doic Mangc Buatc Duqv Gauh Jangv Gauh Cing--

I salute all of you. Thank you for your dedication, courage, accomplishments and scarifies. You all are greatly appreciated.

Yoon Nam Thungc
Redding, CA

Dear friends, brothers, and sisters

On behalf of Long Tong Saechao's family, together with Kevin Saeteurn in Seattle, Mr. Long Tong Saechao's grand son in-law, we would like to thank all of you, who have been so kind and generous in giving your heart felt financial donation to help Mr. Long Tong Saechao. It really shows that our Iumien are very generous, caring, and loving people. When there is a need, you are always there to give support. Your help is very much appreciated by the family. We will keep you all informed as we get more information about Mr. Long Tong Saechao. We apologize for the earlier statement that says Mr. Long Tong Saechao's condition got worse and that he might not make it, that was a mistake.

Thanks again

Kaochiem Chao and Kevin Saeteurn

Kal,

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, you really put into details of how our people lived and had to flee. I hope everyone reads it. Where we came from is very sad and now we are in a country where everyone has the chance to prosper. However, I also believe we should not leave our Iu-mien identity, people and our legacy behind. With you and Kaochiem, I believe you can bring knowledge and understanding between our Iu-mien people. Again, as I post on this site, I do not mean disrespect to anyone. I wish well to all.

--Take care of yourself and take care of each other—

By: Jerry Springer

You’re welcome and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us Uncle. You are an inspiration to me and our Iu-mien communities. I wish you and your family well and hope to see you at one of our Iu-mien events.

Hi Scott;

Thank you for your nice compliment. About my posting, I just felt that there was a need for an explanation about our Iumien's situation and wanted to make sure that people know our brief history, as to, how we got here. Anyhow, as far as how you call me, please check with your dad. I believe your dad is my older cousin brother in-law. I call him Domh nauz and he calls me Juov njiez and that makes you my nephew, I believe.

Thanks again

Well said Kaochiemchao, thank you for your great post and wisdom. You are one of our great leaders in the mien communities. I don’t know what I am supposed to call you, but I’ll ask my father. His name is Fou yoon Kaung Saechao from Fairfield CA. He is also a veteran and I feel that the veterans have everything to do with us being able to come to this free land. Keep up the good work. Much love to you and your family.

Brothers and sisters, all Lao Mien people live in Laos were served in military during Indochina war as known Vietnam War. No matter what part of Laos you live, it was mandatory requested by the Loyal Laos government that all young men from age 12 and up have to serve in military to fight against communists aggression in South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Those communist guerrilla soldiers during the Vietnam war was classified as Viet Cong. When U.S. and France decided to pull out from Vietnam War, all 3 countries were surrendered to communist govenments, operated by North Vietnam lead by Ho Chin Min and support by former Soviet Union and China.

After 1975, the indochina war was over. South Vietnam united with North Vietnam as one country and became communist state. Laos and Combodia also became Communist states. The newly established communist governments started to perscuted former Lao government officials, militarty officials and eventually excuted them. The people in these 3 countries began to escape into Thailand to seek sanctuary.

Thailand is independent country which run by elected Prime minister and the head of state is a king. (Thailand does not fell in to communist states. The political system is very similar to western countries)

The United Nations provided funding to rescue refugees from those 3 countries and Thai government lend the land to United Nations to set up refugees camp through out Thailand for temporery settlement there.

The United Nations High Commissioner For Refugee began to ask for western countries to accept these refugees to settle in their country due to proscution if these refugees were repatriation to their home land.

Freedom isn't free. Yes Mien people sacrifice their lives during the war due to U.S. involvement with the war. Now, is U.S. obligation or not, the interest of U.S. international policy and foreign affair, we were granted refugee asylum to settle into the U.S. Yes, we all should honor all Lao Mien veterans.

Young generations, please have a positive view point on older Iu Mien folks.

I'm not a historian by profession but my association with many Mienh veterans and leaders, and my limited research on recent Mienh history have given me a perspective that is perhaps different from some of that have expressed here.

As our first Mienh-American Kaochiem Chao had expressed, except the Thai-Mienh, our pressence in America was clearly due to our participation in the war. There were very few if any Lao, Thai or Cambodian in the US prior to 1965. The first few Hmongs came to the US as educators in the late 1960s. One of the Lao Princes attended UC Berkeley in 1974. Clearly, they were the elite class. Recognize that they came here after Laotians (Mienh, Hmong, Lao, Khmmu and other ethnic groups) had given support to the US communist containtment policy in Southeast Asia. Also realize that those Mienh, Hmong, Lao and Cambodian that supported communist Lao were left behind.

By law, the United States did not have to accept any Laotian refugees because there was not supposed to be a war. However, all that changed when we became refugees in Thailand. The world found out that the Mienh and the Hmong were actually the backbone of the US secret operation in Laos. Because of that direct involvement, the United States felt obligated to take in some of the high ranking officials. This is because of the domino theory - the idea that once Vietnam is gone, Laos, Cambodian and Thailand would also fall. When that happen, the high ranking officials would be the first to be persecuted and probably executed. Remember that the first two Mienh-American families (Kaochiem Chao and Fouwang Chin) were relatively high ranking officials with some connections with the CIA agents.

Soon the refugee crisis showed up in the American living rooms through television. Sympathetic Carter administration decided to pass the Refugees Act of 1980, which opened up the door for most of us to come here. The first wave (1976-1979) Mienh Americans, were predominantly more western educated with critical connections to some CIA agents. The second wave (1980-1985)were mostly the regular soldiers or were sponsored by the first wave Mienh-Americans. Ask your own parents and see who sponsored your family. The third wave (post 1985)were mostly those who thought they would be able to return to Laos or those that went ouside the camp to Thailand and decided to return or Thai-Mienh citizens who made claim of being Lao-Mienh.

Yes, we are lucky to be here, but I do not think it was luck that brought us here. If your parents were with the communist, you would not be here for sure. Thus, I would say that we all need to remember how many lives our people have sacrificed for us to be here. Yes, 1960-1975 was one of the darkest period of our recent history. Many Mienh were killed by our own Mienh because they were empowered by guns. Yes, corruption was rampant. Yes, many less fortunate (poor) Mienh families were subjected to unjust treatment by some irrational and perhaps psychotic soldiers. If you ask your parents, I'm sure they can tell one or two instances of our Mienh brothers/sisters being unreasonably tortured and/or killed. Regardless, we should understand that the sacrafice of our veterans has as much to with our presence here today as anything else. I think we will always be indebted to our veterans (unless you were from western Laos, who were not involved in the war, or Thai-Mienh), your father, uncle and/or grandfather was probably a veteran. We need to acknowledge all of them for their contribution in our history and giving us the opportunity to live in America.

If our presence here is due to our long history of being oppressed, then all the Mienh from China, Laos, Vietnam, Burma and Thailand should be here now. However, you know Chinese-Mienh or Thai-Mienh or Vietnamese-Mienh have to be sponsored or be married to an American to be here. Somehow luck does not extent to them.

Thank you, Mienh veterans.

After reading what you all had to say about Long Tong, I just wanted to express my deepest appreciation to all of you. Long Tong is also my grandfather and although I never really knew him growing up, I had the opportunity to meet him a couple years ago. All the hours in a day would not have been nearly enough for me to truly get to know my grandfather. However, spending that one month with my grandfather allowed me to see what a kind, generous, and loving grandfather, father, and leader he was and still is. I have only known my grandfather for a very short period of time, but when I got news of what happened to him I felt like a part of me was gone as well. I know that many of you can understand the pain of losing or almost losing a loved one. And just like others seek friends and family for support and comfort we the saechao family write these blogs in hopes of seeking love and support from our fellow iu mien community. So please do not be to quick to judge our reasons for posting these blogs.
I do not know what I would have done if I had lost my grandfather, but thankfully he has made a turn for the better and not worst. I would not have known about the current condition of my grandfather if it were not for my father's(San Tong's) constant communication with our family in Laos and his overwhelming love and dedication towards his father. I have him to thank for much of the support and care that was given to my grandfather. I just got word from my father that he just talked to our family in laos and that the doctors there are going to perform a surgical operation to insert a breathing tube into my grandfather's throat to help him breath.
I would also like to personally thank May and kaochiem for taking the time out of their busy schedules to create these blogs and to inform our iu mien community about my grandfather. I also want to thank the both of you for taking the first step to raising funds for my grandfather's medical expenses. I know that my family and I truly appreciate all the support you have provided. And I am sure that many of our mien brothers/sisters are also thankful for everything that you both have done. From the bottom of my heart, thank you both for all your effort and support. And thank all of you who take the time to read this blog and who responded to any of the previously posted blogs.

Lai

I appologize if i offended anyone with my comments here about my grandpa (Long Tong Saechao).I didn't know where else i can seek support and to spread the news about my grandpa to those who are either distance relatives, friends and or fellow veterans who can sympathize with us to lend a hand at a time of need. I know that there are alot of our elders out there that has done just as much for our people as my grandpa has and this isn't to say that we think anything less of them. I know that if they too needed help, our "Mien" community will be more than happy to lend a hand or our support if we know of it.

Thanks Uncle Kaochiem for the clarification on our veterans history and how they made it possible for us to be here today.

Thank you.

Dear young brother/sister;

Thank you for posting your question on Iumien.com, in regarding to Mr. Louang Tong Saechao. To answer your question, of course, we love, care, and respect all the veterans. The reason we are asking for help for Mr. Louang Tong Saechao is because he has gotten into a tragic accident and that his neck is broken. He is now being hospitalized and in comma, in Thailand. If any other veterans have fallen into this situation, of course, we will ask for help, if we knew. We also would ask for help for the families of those that have passed away, again, only if we knew. If we don't know, then we wouldn't know who passes away or whether or not the family needs help. Please understand, we mentioned the name of Mr. Louang Tong Saechao and asked for help for him it doesn't mean that we love and respect him more than others, but because of his medical situation. And, of course, he was one of our strong, kind, smart, and generous leaders too.

I also would like to make a few comments about those who think we were simply lucky and that veterans didn't have anything to do with our coming to America. Well, again my young brother/sister, we were brought to America was not simply because we were lucky. We were brought to America was because many of our Iumien people had served in military and fought along side of American soldiers against the opposit side during the Vietnam war. Our Iumien and Hmong people were working very hard for Americans during those years. Many of our young men and women were killed as the result of that war. After the war was over, our Iumien people and Hmong people were being pursued and persecuted by our enemies because of our involvement in the war. Therefore, the U.S government felt obligated and American people were being sympathetic toward our people and, therefore, they brought us here. When you see other people such as: Laotian, Hmong, Cambodian, and Vietnamese here in the U.S, they were all in the same situation as we were. Otherwise, coming to America is very difficult. In order to be able to come to America, one has to have high education and able to pass their international student's test. Or, one has to have close relatives that are already in America to sponsore him/her in order for one to come here. Our Iumien people had none of the above. Before the Vietnam war, we were living on high mountains working on farms. When you see lots of people from other countries that came to America, they all have different reasons and different qualifications to be here. Again, we were able to come to America was because our Iumien people worked for the U.S government. It was not simply because we were lucky, my young brother/sister, and the U.S government will not bring just anyone into this country as you know, unless one has done something for them. Our people had done a lot of work for this country. We have lost many lives, and spilled our blood, and I believe that's how we have earned our passport to come to America. But,thank you for your comment though.

I don't think because the Veteran that's why we be able to come here. I think we come here because Vietnam fall and Laos fall. Veteran don't have anythings to do with we Mien peoples being here U.S.

WhY LOUANG TONG SAECHAO is so good to be came a Veteran for some folk? be cause he is still around? and what about the
other veterans? some it is passahway, some still around. But i see folks mention long thorng only.i just wondering why not mention other.

I agree with your comment. We all have different thought,but we came the same root.As we are the Iumien, came from Laos.

We have to respect all veterans regardless if they fought for the US or our country of Laos. They have put their life on the line and they are the reason we Iu-mien people are able to come to this country. As I can recall from my father’s stories, we Iu-mien people were not Christians when we fled to the US. However, it was the Christian families that sponsored us. My family personally is not Christian but everyone have their choice in life. I will not bag on Christians as my Christian friends will not bag on me. We all have our own beliefs and we should respect each other no matter the differences between beliefs. My point is we have to respect the veterans no matter what religion, race, gender or any differences that we as people have. No disrespect to you my bratha Rocky. Much love to all

-Please take care of yourself and each other- by Jerry Springer. =)

I disgaree with some of you who said because of Mienh Veteran without them we wouldn't be here today? Because another group of christitan also proclaimed because of God without Him we wouldn't be here today? Do you know how long mienh people lived in uncivilization society and why?

Why do chinese, thai, laotian, vietnamese, cambodian, many other part of the world people been in U.S long before secret war in Pathet Laos? I called it we had suffered long enough, and finally got lucky... that's why we are here today.

Thank you so much uncle Kao Chiem for your time and dedication into helping me and my family through this tough time of needs. We would also like to thank everyone who has already donated and i hope you all will include your name and the city you live in so in the future when my grandfather is well he will know who has helped him.

Just an update on my grandfather's condition. I have words from my mom and uncle that he is doing better. They have transfer him to a hospital in Chiang Rai and his condition is more stable now. 1st diagnosis was that he has broken his spinal cord and collar bones, but the new hospital has made more relevant diagnosis. We (Saechao) family are grateful that he is doing better.

Thank you all for your support and prayers.

Sorry to hear that our great leader, Long Tong Saechao, had got into tragic accident. I know Mr. Saechao back in the 80’s in Chiang Kham camp and I was fortunate to go back to meet him again 2 years ago and spent a night at his house in Laos. At the time I had a chance to see his village and his fish ponds. I heard that his son, San Tong would like to sponsor him to visit USA and I asked him why he didn’t want to come. He told me that he didn’t want to leave the fish ponds. Which I understood how much he loves those fish ponds because he had minor stroke couple years ago and it took him an hour to walk from his house to the fish ponds which it will take us about 10 minutes. I also had a chance to sit down with him to ask about our Mien fellows in Laos and third countries and how he sees some of the changes in our Mien culture, tradition and religion. He gave us some very good advice how we should be unite as one Mien family and I have video tape of him about his perspective of the changes to our Mien culture and tradition and how our young generations should preserve and learn from his perspective. If Gauv would like to have a copy of that I’ll be happy to share with our Mien fellows. I would like to make a small donation as well and Chua yiox, (kao chiem chao) I hope to see you this coming Saturday in Sacramento and we will talk about that.

Hi Gauv nauz;

Thank you for posting the information about the Iumien Veterans'celebration in Richmond, CA on November 22nd. 2008. I hope many Lao Iumien, American Veterans will attend this event, along with many friends and relatives. When we think about Iumien Veterans, it's really sad that Mr. Louang Tong Saechao is not able to come and join us. He was one of our strong military leaders, who fought along side of American, Iumien, and Laotian royal army soldiers against the opposit side. He was not just another military leader, but he was always very kind, very thoughtful, and generous. He should have come with all of us to America to enjoy the freedom and opportunities, but he loves the country of Laos so much that he went back to Laos instead, after spending a number of years in refugee camp in Thailand. The most sad news I have received was, he has gotten into a traggic accident recently and that his neck was broken, as the result of that accident. He is now being hospitalized, in comma, in Thailand. As we can all know and expect, there will be lots of medical bills coming to him and his family. With that in mind, I would like to urge all of us: friends, relatives, and any Iumien persons in America, please make an effort to help Mr. Louang Tong Saechao by donating any amount by your heart or as you wish. When you donate, you can do it either as individually or as a group and please write down your name, first and last, the city and state that you live in on a piece of paper and send it along with your donation, so that he or his family will know who has contributed to help him. For more information, please e-mail me to kaochiem@comcast.net. Last night, I have forwarded an e-mail from Mr. Louang Tong's grand son in-law, Kevin, who lives in Seattle, WA to many friends, but I hit the send button too soon and I didn't add any words of my own to it, sorry.

Sincere

Kaochiem Chao

I think it would be awesome if the veteran could provide a pictures of themselves in uniform from the past. (60's, & 70's )...

It would be nice to know who are some of the elite veterans that were in special unit and the ranking of Mien Lao Royal Army officers.

May, I am sorry to hear about your father. Please ask Mr. Kaochiem Chao to ask the Association or members of the association to see how much they can donate to your father's medical care. I know the association doesn't have much funds, but maybe they can donate a small amount. Also, individual members may have known your father and may be interested in donating individually.

Thanks.