1.1A Senate resolution
1.2honoring the Hawj family on the 40th anniversary of their arrival in Minnesota.
1.3WHEREAS, on a cold December day in 1975, Donald Hawj (then Dang Her), his wife
1.4Shoua Hawj (then Sua Mua), and their son Touvi left their home in Laos for the United States; and
1.5WHEREAS, when the Hawj family settled in Anoka, they became the first Hmong family
1.6to relocate to Minnesota as refugees of the Vietnam War; and
1.7WHEREAS, adapting to a new environment and foreign culture with courage and grace,
1.8the Hawj family grew to include seven children and, eventually, eight grandchildren; and
1.9WHEREAS, they founded their community's first Hmong-operated nonprofit organization
1.10and first Southeast Asian grocery store, contributing to the local economy, serving as a vanguard
1.11of diversity in the area, and earning renown as respected and influential leaders; and
1.12WHEREAS, 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the Hawj family's arrival in Minnesota; and
1.13NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota
1.14that it honors the Hawj family for four decades of indelible contributions to the Anoka area
1.15community and Hmong culture in Minnesota and that it acknowledges the 40th anniversary
1.16of their immigration.
1.17BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
1.18enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the Chair
1.19of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Donald and Shoua Hawj.

JoAnne M. ZoffSecretary of the Senate

Thomas M. BakkChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

Foung HawjState Senator, District 67