Title
Commemorating the life of Nai Koo Shong Ger Thao.
Body
WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao was born in Long Tieng, Laos on December 6, 1937; and
WHEREAS, he was the tenth child of thirteen to ZaThao Thao, father, and Ma Yang, mother; and
WHEREAS, at the age of nine, Shong Ger Thao joined the Lao Buddhist temple and in 1948, Shong Ger Thao later joined the Roman Catholic Church in Phonsavan, Laos; and
WHEREAS, in 1961, at the age of 24, Shong Ger Thao married his first wife Kia Vang; and
WHEREAS, in 1962, Shong Ger Thao joined the Secret War Army of Laos under the support and auspices of the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao served under the supervision of Col. Neng Chue Thao of the city of Phakhao and Long Tieng and in 1966 was promoted to Nai Koo; and
WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao survived many combat battles before leaving the army and joining the Mayor's Office of Xao Chia Thao in the province of Xieng Hong, Laos; and
WHEREAS, in 1967 Shong Ger Thao was recruited by the Royal Lao Government to participate in the development and studies of Government in Sam Thong, Laos; and
WHEREAS, in 1971 Shong Ger Thao was recognized as a Scholar by the Royal Lao Government and, from 1971 to 1975, he served as a Justice of the Court in the Province of Xieng Hong in Laos; and
WHEREAS, in 1975 after his country fell into the hands of the Communist force, he and his family were forced to flee across the Mekong River in search of freedom in Thailand; and
WHEREAS, on June 14, 1975 Shong Ger Thao and his family became refugees and lived in the Nong Khai Camp; and
WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao and his family later relocated to Nam Phong, Thailand in August 1975, then later forced to relocate to refugee Camp in Ban Vinai, Thailand in January 1976; and
WHEREAS, in 1980, Shong Ger Thao and his family arrived in the United States as refugees of the Secret War in Southeast Asia, and resided in Saint Paul, MN; and
WHEREAS, Shong Ger Thao served Saint Paul, Minnesot...
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