The Story of the First Asian Documentary series on the Vietnam Conflict.
After Ken Burns 2017 broadcast of his Documentary Series "The Vietnam War" many of our allies were disappointed that Laos and Cambodia were omitted from the series. One third of the war was fought in those two countries. The desire of our Asian. Allies for a Documentary Series which included Laos and Cambodia soon began. Various efforts were made by Allied Veterans and Community groups without success.. These efforts had great enthusiastic support but failed largely due to the inability to secure funding.
Fortunately the State of Minnesota had established a fund to preserve Minnesotas Heritage and Legacy. This fund was accessible to all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota has one of the largest Asian population in the United States consisting of Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, Thai, Japanese, Tibetan, Chinese, South Korean, Vietnamese, Afghan and many others. Accessing this Fund required a member of the State legislature to sponsor and introduce a bill for project funding. Our Asian Communities mobilized and began sending correspondence Senators and Representatives. Colonel Khao Inxisiegmay a distinguished commander from Military Region III in Laos played a pivotal role in lobbying for the legislation.
In 2020 the CAVWV accepted the challenge and recruited 13 film makers in Minnesota to produce a nine episode series with the emphasis on Asian narrative. If produced it would be the only known documentary series of its kind to exist. Representative Steve Green agreed to sponsor our Bill that legislative session.
On March 25, 2021 the year of Covid, HF. 2428 was introduced but failed to get a hearing for a number of reasons including the disruption the pandemic caused. The legislation died without passage.
On March 31st, 2023 Speaker Mellisa Hortman and Senator John Hoffman who's districts have a large lao population and personal friends of CL Khao agreed to sponsor our legislation, however the late introduction prevented it from being heard in the Legacy Committee. Speaker Hortman was disappointed but vowed to get it passed in 2024.
The letter to Speaker Hortman in. 2020 and the 2023 Text of HF 3208 the can be found below.
Our communities look forward in testifying in 2024.
Fortunately the State of Minnesota had established a fund to preserve Minnesotas Heritage and Legacy. This fund was accessible to all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota has one of the largest Asian population in the United States consisting of Hmong, Lao, Cambodian, Thai, Japanese, Tibetan, Chinese, South Korean, Vietnamese, Afghan and many others. Accessing this Fund required a member of the State legislature to sponsor and introduce a bill for project funding. Our Asian Communities mobilized and began sending correspondence Senators and Representatives. Colonel Khao Inxisiegmay a distinguished commander from Military Region III in Laos played a pivotal role in lobbying for the legislation.
In 2020 the CAVWV accepted the challenge and recruited 13 film makers in Minnesota to produce a nine episode series with the emphasis on Asian narrative. If produced it would be the only known documentary series of its kind to exist. Representative Steve Green agreed to sponsor our Bill that legislative session.
On March 25, 2021 the year of Covid, HF. 2428 was introduced but failed to get a hearing for a number of reasons including the disruption the pandemic caused. The legislation died without passage.
On March 31st, 2023 Speaker Mellisa Hortman and Senator John Hoffman who's districts have a large lao population and personal friends of CL Khao agreed to sponsor our legislation, however the late introduction prevented it from being heard in the Legacy Committee. Speaker Hortman was disappointed but vowed to get it passed in 2024.
The letter to Speaker Hortman in. 2020 and the 2023 Text of HF 3208 the can be found below.
Our communities look forward in testifying in 2024.
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Text of Funding Bill (2023)
Sen. John Hoffman, Speaker Mellisa Hortman & CL Khao Insixiengmay offering a Lao Prayer
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Minnesota State Capitol
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Speaker Hortman, Sen. Hoffman, Cl Khao and Lao Veterans
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Printable brochure
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