Lia Vang Lia
is the host for Being Hmong Means Being Free. She will graduate
from Green Bay's East High School in June 2001. Her senior year will be
comprised of school and work, as she puts in some 20 hours per week at
a clothing store in Green Bay. After high school Lia plans to attend college,
probably at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.
Seng Vang
The oldest of the 14 living Vang children, Seng was graduated from Green
Bay East High School in June 1997. At East, he was a member of the National
Honor Society and Peer Group and participated in football, weight lifting
and the first musical production at East High.
Following graduation, Seng enlisted in the Army where he served two years
at Fort Lewis, Washington, and in Kosovo. Since his Honorable Discharge
in 1999, he has attended UW - Green Bay, where he works on the campus
and plans to go on to law school, probably at UW - Madison, Stanford or
California - Berkley.
Cher Yang Vang Cher
Yang Vang, father of Lia and Seng and 13 other children with wife Mai
and eight others with his first wife in Laos, is perhaps the quintessential
Hmong immigrant. He was born and grew to adulthood on a small farm in
the mountains of Laos in a village that he refers to as "Gah-Luun." (English
pronunciation, not Hmong spelling.) There were about 28 houses in the
village representing 4 clans.
In those days a young Hmong man either farmed or went into the military
to earn a living. Since Cher was the eldest of 10 siblings, it was his
responsibility to help with the farm, raising cattle, pigs and horses
and helping with the crops. At age 18 he married and, in keeping with
tradition, moved into his family's home with his wife to farm and live
as his ancestors had lived before. Then the military came to him. more information....
Major General Vang Pao Vang
Pao (the name is actually Pao Vang, but in Hmong custom the surname and
given name are sometimes juxtaposed for people of stature and fame) was
born in the Hmong village of Nonghet in the mountains of northern Laos
not far from the Vietnam border and the town of Dien Bien Phu. He grew
up like most Hmong boys, helping his parents on the farm with the crops
and the cattle and learning the traditional values of courage, hard work,
honesty, respect and knowledge of nature. more information....
Lia
is the host for Being Hmong Means Being Free. She will graduate
from Green Bay's East High School in June 2001. Her senior year will be
comprised of school and work, as she puts in some 20 hours per week at
a clothing store in Green Bay. After high school Lia plans to attend college,
probably at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. 
The oldest of the 14 living Vang children, Seng was graduated from Green
Bay East High School in June 1997. At East, he was a member of the National
Honor Society and Peer Group and participated in football, weight lifting
and the first musical production at East High. 
Cher
Yang Vang, father of Lia and Seng and 13 other children with wife Mai
and eight others with his first wife in Laos, is perhaps the quintessential
Hmong immigrant. He was born and grew to adulthood on a small farm in
the mountains of Laos in a village that he refers to as "Gah-Luun." (English
pronunciation, not Hmong spelling.) There were about 28 houses in the
village representing 4 clans. 
Vang
Pao (the name is actually Pao Vang, but in Hmong custom the surname and
given name are sometimes juxtaposed for people of stature and fame) was
born in the Hmong village of Nonghet in the mountains of northern Laos
not far from the Vietnam border and the town of Dien Bien Phu. He grew
up like most Hmong boys, helping his parents on the farm with the crops
and the cattle and learning the traditional values of courage, hard work,
honesty, respect and knowledge of nature.