Coalition of Southeast Asian Veterans

PRESS RELEASE

1404 Concordia Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104 612-437-4309 [email protected]

CoSAV

__________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE _________________________ Date: Contact:

April 20, 2015 Scott Walker

[email protected]

651-775-7560

Congressional Resolution gives over due recognition for Southeast Asian Veterans Saint Paul, MN - Congressman Sean Duffy introduced H. Res 210 in the US House of Representatives April 17th recognizing the Hmong, Lao, Montagnard and Khmer Veterans for supporting the United States and defending freedom in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam Conflict. The date of the resolution introduction was no accident as April 17th marked the 40 anniversary of the invasion and take over of Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge and the beginning of one of the most horrific events in Southeast Asian history, The Cambodian Genocide. Khmer, Lao, Montagnard and Hmong supported the United States military secretly in Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam Conflict and had never been recognized for their sacrifices and service. “Our coalition came very close in getting our resolution passed in both Houses last year. We organized a last minute visit to Washington DC last November when over 100 Southeast Asian and US veterans lobbied for passage of H. Res 596.” said Scott Walker director of CoSAV. “Our coalition made history last July when United States Senate passed S. Res 462 marking the very first time Southeast Asian Veterans had been recognized by the United States. The passage of H. Res 210 will complete our mission in obtaining recognition by both Houses of Congress.” Walker continued. CoSAV plans to return to Washington for 4 days beginning June 14th to complete their mission and lobby for its passage. The Veterans Administration installed a plaque on April 18th in Fort Snelling National Cemetary Airborne Circle memorializing the Khmer, Loa and Hmong special forces. This marked the first time a memorial had been installed on Federal Property recognizing their contributions. There are nearly three quarters of a million Khmer, Lao, Montagnard and Hmong citizens living in the United States today. More can be found by visiting www.IKAinternational.org CoSAV is a coalition US and Foriegn National Southeast Asian Veterans associated with The Khmer Veterans Project, the second major project of the International Khmer Assembly. The International Khmer Assembly is a 501(c)(3) non profit humanitarian organization incorporated in the State of Minnesota.