U.S. Declaration of Independence
First translation into the Khmer Language
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United States Library of Congress sends a letter to the Cambodian Communities accepting their
gift to the American people. |
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September 23, 2024
On September 23rd our translation of the United States Declaration of Independence was delivered to the Library of Congress completing our DOI Translation Project.
Our Translation was delivered to Asian Division of the Library of Congress Monday September 23.
Plans are now being made for the Khmer Communities to officially present the document to the Citizens of the United States.
Plans are now being made for the Khmer Communities to officially present the document to the Citizens of the United States.
(Full translation can be found below)
The Translation
The Header
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Attributions
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More about the Library Of Congress and our project
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Thomas Briggs, CAVWV President recently received correspondence from the Asian Desk at the Library of Congress expressing their delight in receiving the first translation of the United States Declaration of Independence into th Khmer language. Our work will be delivered to the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and formally unveiled. The Khmer Community will officially gift this historic translation it the the United States Citizens in 2026.
The translation will be officially catalogued and then be displayed in time for the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration, July 4, 2026. |
Celebrating and Commemorating the 250 Anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence,
Khmer Communities gift the First Translation into the Khmer Language to the Citizens of the United States of America
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Khmer Community leaders Sotheary Duong, Lam Yem and Hoeun Hach are pictured above with the first translation of the Declaration of Independence in the Khmer language at Nathan Hale Park,
Saint Paul, Minnesota..
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On July 3, 2024, the Cambodian-American community proudly announced the successful completion of a multi-year effort to translate the American Declaration of Independence into Khmer, the official language of Cambodia.
This significant cultural and historical project brought together Khmer scholars, historians, and veterans from Cambodia, Thailand, and the United States. Their collective expertise ensured that the translation was both accurate and culturally resonant, preserving the power and spirit of the original 1776 document while making it accessible to Khmer-speaking communities around the world.
The printing and professional framing of the translated document were completed in Saint Paul, Minnesota, supported by generous donations from the broader Khmer community across the United States. This effort reflects the deep appreciation many Cambodian-Americans hold for the democratic ideals and freedoms enshrined in America’s founding documents.
The translation is currently on display in the Asian Room of the Library of Congress.
The community plans to deliver and formally unveil the translated Declaration later this year at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — the exact location where the original document was signed on July 4, 1776. This historic hall served as the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress, where delegates from the thirteen colonies formally declared their independence from Great Britain. The Declaration articulated the fundamental principle that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed and listed specific grievances against King George III, ultimately justifying the creation of a new, free nation.
The announcement itself was held at Nathan Hale Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota, a site deliberately chosen for its symbolic connection to American independence. The park is named after Nathan Hale, one of the most revered heroes of the American Revolutionary War. A young schoolteacher and captain in the Continental Army, Hale volunteered for a dangerous intelligence mission behind British lines. He was captured in September 1776, tried as a spy, and executed by hanging at the age of 21.
Just before his death, Hale uttered the now-immortal words: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” This powerful statement of patriotism and selfless sacrifice has been taught to generations of Americans and remains one of the most memorable expressions of devotion to liberty and freedom in U.S. history.
The Translation
More About the Project
A Memorial Tribute to the Khmer Veterans’ Legacy
In 2013, a group of Khmer veterans began gathering each Saturday morning in a spirit of fellowship and mutual support. They met in a modest room above a plumbing and heating contracting company in Saint Paul, Minnesota. These gatherings offered a vital space to strengthen community bonds and help ease the enduring burdens of PTSD, Complex PTSD, and Genocide Syndrome—trauma they carried from surviving the Khmer Rouge genocide.
One of their shared endeavors was the study of the United States—its origins, founding principles, and the historic documents that established American independence. Their journey began with an exploration of the differences between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Cambodia. This soon led to a deeper examination of the American struggle for liberty, with particular focus on the Declaration of Independence, through which the thirteen colonies severed ties with the British Crown and established a sovereign nation.
During these sessions, the veterans discovered that this foundational document had never been translated into the Khmer language—one of the world’s oldest continuously spoken and written tongues, closely related to ancient Sanskrit. Moved by this realization and filled with gratitude for the freedoms they had come to cherish in their new homeland, the veterans resolved to undertake a translation of the Declaration of Independence as a lasting expression of appreciation to the American people.
Although many in the group could read and speak everyday Khmer fluently, they sought scholars capable of producing a precise and dignified translation. After considerable effort, two Khmer graduate students—one in Cambodia and one in Thailand—accepted the challenge. They completed the translation through dedicated labor, followed by numerous careful revisions and refinements contributed by the veterans as a group.
The final document has now been formally submitted and is on permanent display in the Asian Reading Room at the Library of Congress, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Of the original veterans who first gathered in 2013, ten have since passed. This translation stands as a solemn and enduring tribute to their courage, resilience, and vision—a powerful bridge of understanding and gratitude between their ancient Khmer heritage and the enduring ideals of American liberty.
In 2013, a group of Khmer veterans began gathering each Saturday morning in a spirit of fellowship and mutual support. They met in a modest room above a plumbing and heating contracting company in Saint Paul, Minnesota. These gatherings offered a vital space to strengthen community bonds and help ease the enduring burdens of PTSD, Complex PTSD, and Genocide Syndrome—trauma they carried from surviving the Khmer Rouge genocide.
One of their shared endeavors was the study of the United States—its origins, founding principles, and the historic documents that established American independence. Their journey began with an exploration of the differences between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Cambodia. This soon led to a deeper examination of the American struggle for liberty, with particular focus on the Declaration of Independence, through which the thirteen colonies severed ties with the British Crown and established a sovereign nation.
During these sessions, the veterans discovered that this foundational document had never been translated into the Khmer language—one of the world’s oldest continuously spoken and written tongues, closely related to ancient Sanskrit. Moved by this realization and filled with gratitude for the freedoms they had come to cherish in their new homeland, the veterans resolved to undertake a translation of the Declaration of Independence as a lasting expression of appreciation to the American people.
Although many in the group could read and speak everyday Khmer fluently, they sought scholars capable of producing a precise and dignified translation. After considerable effort, two Khmer graduate students—one in Cambodia and one in Thailand—accepted the challenge. They completed the translation through dedicated labor, followed by numerous careful revisions and refinements contributed by the veterans as a group.
The final document has now been formally submitted and is on permanent display in the Asian Reading Room at the Library of Congress, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Of the original veterans who first gathered in 2013, ten have since passed. This translation stands as a solemn and enduring tribute to their courage, resilience, and vision—a powerful bridge of understanding and gratitude between their ancient Khmer heritage and the enduring ideals of American liberty.
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Of the Original Veteran Attendees Ten Have Passed Into History
Um Ream
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Mican "Niko" Thach
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Saman Roeun
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Seng Eng Meas "Kim Rin"
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Khemmak Vichet
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Chim Ouk
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Muon Srey
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Veng Noch
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Khnor Thoeuth
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Sameth Kul
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Who is Nathan Hale?
Learn more about Nathen Hale here.
https://www.biography.com/military-figures/nathan-hale
Learn more about Nathen Hale here.
https://www.biography.com/military-figures/nathan-hale
Pictured here is the first translation of the Declaration of Independence into the Khmer language, the native language of Cambodia.
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Nathan Hale was an American soldier during the Revolutionary War and was hanged by the British for espionage in 1776.
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Pictured here is the back side of the Nathan Hale statue depicting his bound hands as he is lead to the gallows to be hanged.
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