Title
Recognizing Chertoua Yang and Kazoua Xiong for their service to the Saint Paul Hmong community and proclaiming Saturday, March 4, 2023, as Chertoua Yang and Kazoua Xiong Day in the City of Saint Paul.
Body
WHEREAS, Chertoua Yang was born on August 4, 1954 in Sam Neua, Houaphanh, Laos to Nhiakoua Yang and Kaying Xiong; and
WHEREAS, Kazoua Xiong was born on June 23, 1959 in Xieng Khouang, Laos to Tong Xee Xiong and Phoua Moua; and
WHEREAS, Chertoua enlisted and joined the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s Secret Army in 1970 to replace his father as a foot solider of the Special Guerilla Unit at just 15 years old and served two years with GM 26, 211st Battalion, 5th Company before he was reassigned to GM 21, 201st Battalion, 3rd Company; and
WHEREAS, Chertoua and Kazoua met in the deep jungles and high mountains of Laos, fell in love, and got married on March 4, 1978 before fleeing their homeland to resettle into the refugee camps of Thailand; and
WHEREAS, Chertoua and Kazoua sought political asylum and immigrated to the United States in 1994 where they lived in California before moving to Minnesota in 1996; and
WHEREAS, Chertoua and Kazoua have since dedicated much of their lives to serving the Saint Paul Hmong community by preserving Hmong culture and uplifting Hmong history in partnership with several community leaders and organizations, and
WHEREAS, Chertoua and Kazoua will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary on Saturday, March 4, 2023; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, the Saint Paul City Council honors Chertoua Yang and Kazoua Xiong for their service to the Saint Paul Hmong community; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby proclaims Saturday, March 4, 2023 to be Chertoua Yanga and Kazoua Xiong Day in the City of Saint Paul.