1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
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3 SENATE
3 RESOLUTION 16 By: Jett
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 A Resolution recognizing May 15 as Hmong Special
7 Guerilla Unit (SGU) Veterans Recognition Day; and
8 directing distribution.
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11 WHEREAS, Hmong Special Guerilla Unit (SGU) Veterans Recognition
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12 Day commemorates Hmong combat soldiers that served under the
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13 direction of United States military and clandestine forces from
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14 1961-1975, in the Secret War in Laos during the Vietnam War; and
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15 WHEREAS, we recognize the contributions Hmong veterans of
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16 America continue to make to keep our cherished liberties alive; and
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17 WHEREAS, the Hmong SGU veterans were vital in the Secret War in
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18 Laos, providing intelligence and troops to one of the nation’s
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19 largest operations, rescuing American soldiers, and blocking North
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20 Vietnam from using the Ho Chi Minh Trail to South Vietnam; and
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21 WHEREAS, it is estimated that at least 35,000 Hmong SGU veterans
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22 were killed during the Secret War, and the remaining Hmong
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23 population in Laos has been a victim of ongoing retaliation, murder,
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24 and genocide since the conclusion of the war; and
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 1 WHEREAS, on May 14, 1975, the last American Central Intelligence
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2 Agency personnel withdrew from Laos, and the Hmong veterans and
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3 their families began their journey to new beginnings; and
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4 WHEREAS, these veterans and their families were provided with
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5 political asylum, refugee status, and citizenship because of their
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6 unique contribution to the United States.
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7 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION
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8 OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
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9 THAT the Oklahoma State Senate recognizes May 15 as Hmong
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10 Special Guerilla Unit (SGU) Veterans Recognition Day in Oklahoma.
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11 THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to the Oklahoma
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12 Hmong Association President Cher J. Lor and Mrs. Moua Yang; the Lao
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13 Veterans Association; the National Hmong Associations; Hmong 18 Clan
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14 Council President Pao Vang; Hmong Cannabis Association President
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15 Thomas Herr; and the Hmong Oklahoma Cannabis Association.
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17 59-1-2150 KG 5/1/2023 12:58:04 PM
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