Memorial planned for Hmong and Lao veterans of Vietnam War

WAUSAU — A memorial is being dedicated in Wausau to honor Hmong and Lao veterans who supported the United States during the Vietnam War.

The granite and bronze memorial weighs more than 20 tons and depicts two Hmong soldiers supporting a U.S. airman. The names of local veterans will be etched in stone.

The Wausau Daily Herald reports the memorial will be dedicated June 25 near the Marathon County Courthouse.

Organizers have worked on it since 2012 and have raised $240,000.

Kham Yang is board president at the Hmong American Center. He says many people don't know how Hmong soldiers contributed to the war. They supported a secret CIA effort in Laos. After the war, many families came to the U.S. as refugees.

The first Hmong family arrived in Wausau 40 years ago.