1.1A Senate resolution
1.2commemorating the life of Chief Warrant Officer (Nai Koo) Shong Ger Thao
1.3WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao was born in Long Tieng, Laos, on December 6, 1937; and
1.4WHEREAS, in 1946, at the age of 9, Shong Ger Thao joined the Lao Buddhist temple, and
1.5in 1948 he joined the Roman Catholic Church in Phonsavan, Laos; and
1.6WHEREAS, in 1961 Shong Ger Thao married his first wife Kia Vang; and
1.7WHEREAS, in 1962 he joined the Secret War Army of Laos under the support and
1.8auspices of the United States; and
1.9WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao served under the supervision of Colonel Neng Chue Thao of
1.10the cities of Phakhao and Long Tieng and in 1966 was promoted to Nai Koo; and
1.11WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao survived many combat battles before leaving the army and
1.12joining the mayor's office of Xao Chia Thao in the province of Xieng Hong; and
1.13WHEREAS, in 1967 he was recruited by the Royal Lao Government to participate in the
1.14development and studies of government in Sam Thong; and
1.15WHEREAS, in 1971 Shong Ger Thao was recognized as a scholar by the Royal Lao
1.16Government and from 1971 to 1975 he served as a Justice of the Court in the province of Xieng
1.17Hong; and
1.18WHEREAS, on June 14, 1975, he and his family became refugees, living in a camp in
1.19Nong Khai; and
1.20WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao and his family relocated to Nam Phong, Thailand, in 1975,
1.21but were forced into a refugee camp in Ban Vinai, Thailand, in 1976; and
2.1WHEREAS, in 1980, Shong Ger Thao and his family arrived in the United States as
2.2refugees of the war in Southeast Asia and settled in St. Paul, Minnesota; and
2.3WHEREAS, he moved to Las Vegas in 1981 to work at the Riviera Hotel, providing
2.4financial support to his family, who remained in Minnesota; and
2.5WHEREAS, in 1983 he returned to St. Paul, where he married Kia Yang; and
2.6WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao served his community as a civilian leader, master maker of
2.7qeej (Hmong bamboo instruments), blacksmith, Hmong cultural and traditional expert, mentor,
2.8and shaman; and
2.9WHEREAS, in 1992 he cofounded the Hmong Cultural Center and served as an advisor to
2.10Hmong 18 Council in Minnesota to address conflict resolution and mediation between Hmong
2.11cultural values that were inconsistent with the American legal system; and
2.12WHEREAS, in 1993 Shong Ger Thao was invited by the Chinese Chancellor to attend a
2.13cultural event in China as a Hmong religious, cultural, and traditional expert to talk about the
2.14history of the Hmong and their culture and traditions; and
2.15WHEREAS, in 2008 he was invited to testify to the United Nations Human Rights
2.16Program on Hmong grave desecration in Thailand; and
2.17WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao was awarded a Certificate of Recognition for his expertise in
2.18Hmong culture, traditional practices, and history by the University of St. Catherine in St. Paul; and
2.19WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao passed away June 16, 2014, in St. Paul; and
2.20NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
2.21recognizes Shong Ger Thao for a life full of courage in the face of adversity and an unwavering
2.22devotion to family, culture, and global justice.
2.23BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare
2.24an enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that
2.25of the Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to the family
2.26of Shong Ger Thao.

JoAnne M. ZoffSecretary of the Senate

Thomas M. BakkChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

Foung HawjState Senator, District 67