Last night we stayed in Plymouth, Wisconsin at Plymouth Rock Campground. Our site was HORRIBLE. The campground was full for the Father’s Day weekend. Many sites looked decent, but the one we were assigned was impossible to get level –even for us! We even tried parking sideways, which was not easy. LOL, though the views were nice. 🙂
We were supposed to be there for FOUR nights! We left today. Where did we go?? Well, it is June 14th, so we went down the road to Sheboygan, Wisconsin to participate in the “NO Kings” protest at Peace Park! What a beautiful setting!!
We brought our protest signs we used while we were in Yuma. What a great and energetic turnout!!
And this wasn’t even the most crowded it got!!!
It was great to see a good number of young adults participating. Since I had two signs, a group of younger adults next to me asked if one of them could use one of my signs. They would get it back to me. I gave him my actual “No Kings” sign.
People going by in cars (and bikes) were awesome. 98% of the people were extremely supportive. They honked and waved in agreement and cheering us on! Barry and I were really glad we had the opportunity to be a part this “No Kings Protest”!
Unfortunately, as the protest was coming to an end, I left the area I had been for the last couple hours to take a picture of a few signs that I liked, but didn’t see till now. I didn’t realize we were that close to the “end” of the protest. I’m sure the younger group thought I had left. Realizing I wasn’t getting my sign back, I was OK with that. I hope it will get more use by them throughout the summer!!
Afterwards we spent some time at the beach.
Then I noticed this art display, so I went up to check it out. It was NOT what I was expecting at all. Wow! I don’t think I’ve seen a memorial that provided this extensive amount of information, but I understand why and am thankful. I learned SO much!
It was a Veterans Memorial, but not like the typical ones we’ve seen in so many communities as we traveled the U.S. This one honors the Lao, Hmong and Americans who served in the U.S. Secret War in Laos from 1962 to 1975. The following information comes directly from this memorial.
Tens of thousands of Lao and Hmong and hundreds of Americans fought valiantly in a long and bloody effort. They delayed the eventual takeover of Laos by North Vietnam while protecting U.S. troops fighting in South Vietnam!
This memorial stands here not to glorify war, but to clarify what happened because of a Secret War waged by the United States and her allies in Laos from 1961-1975. Its secrecy has prevented Americans from appreciating the service and sacrifices of the warriors and those who supported them. Sadly, their valor and loyalty are being forgotten as their story has never been adequately told.
Sheboygan was deeply and directly affected by the war’s aftermath. This memorial is to tell how Americans and non-Americans worked together as allies to keep U.S. soldiers from dying in South Vietnam. It stands here as a tribute to them and to shed light on truth kept too long in the dark.
Winning the struggle for mere survival, the Hmong still had to contend with so many sorrows, including the loss of their way of life. Those who had worked for the U.S. government were accepted for immigration to the United States. Various secular and religious voluntary organizations, working with the U.S. government facilitated their migration. Many hoped that they would one day return to Laos. As time passed, with the Laotian government still threatening persecution of the Hmong people, they came to call the United States their nation.
On April 24, 1976, the first Hmong family became Sheboyganites. By 2000, Sheboygan was the 14th largest Hmong population in the nation. The Hmong families expressed extreme gratitude for this chance of life and liberty.
In coming to the United States, the Hmong traveled half the world and essentially a hundred years through time, into a society with completely unfamiliar traditions and technology. Before the war, they had farmed on a rugged landscape; carving out not just an existence, but a rich culture in a region that demanded a highly mobile way of life.
New to America, the Hmong faced balancing their culture with that of the U.S. They have maintained their close clan and family ties for economic and social support. While respecting their heritage and fearing they might lose it, nonetheless, they resolved to make the most of their new lives. Because of severe deprivations brought on by the Secret War, they had much to overcome.
“There has never been any immigrant group arriving on these shores that has suffered as much as the Hmong have suffered as a result of their loyalty to the U.S. government.” – a USAID official who worked in Laos
In Sheboygan, they saw opportunity, despite disadvantages caused by decades of limited access to education, even the basics of reading and writing. The Hmong language is not in the Indo-European language family and those extremely different from English. Literacy and language issues created special obstacles they strove to overcome. Typically it takes immigrant groups at least two generations to assimilate. Within 30 years of the arrival of the first Hmong immigrants – in just one generation – the vast majority of U.S. Hmong adults had already become tax-paying citizens, with a healthy share working as professionals.
Despite the tragic events that led to their migration, the Hmong have richly added to the wonderfully diverse tapestry of cultures and people that form the strength of this nation.
More about the Secret War – How the Hmong CIVILIANS were affected.
Violent clashes with communist troops drove most of the civilian Hmong population from the mountains they had long called home. The refugees suddenly found themselves dependent on the CIA and the U.S. Agency for International Development for airdrops of food, shelter and medical supplies. That dependence was particularly trying for them, as they were a self-reliant, hard-working people. Their farmlands were under enemy control and all able-bodied males were fighting to win back their way of life.
Western disease in refugee camps decimated the women and children. One measles outbreak killed hundreds of children. Malaria took a horrific toll. Infant mortality rate reached 70%. Many other women and children were killed by enemy rocket and ground attacks. The Hmong civilians endured sorrow on a scale the vast majority of American have never had to face.
Encouraged by U.S. promises, the Hmong and Lao hill people fought hard to stay free from communist rule, but their struggle grew infinitely harder when the U.S. broke its promises and abandoned Laos in 1975. Then, the communist Pathet Lao and their North Vietnamese allies killed thousand of Hmong and Laotian hill people outright and placed thousands more in forced labor camps. They bombed and gassed those trying to escape.
A former USAID. official said, “We left the hill people of Laos to genocide. The Hmong were especially targeted for their fierce loyalty to America. Many more thousands of men, women and children were hunted down and exterminated.”
Finding sanctuary meant journeying through jungles on foot and evading community troops to reach refugee camps in Thailand that were established by the United Nations. The final barrier for most was crossing the Mekong River under cover of night, often under gunfire. The swift currents drowned many.
Because the war had been kept clandestine, there was little knowledge of, let alone sympathy for their situation. Their sacrifices were kept secret; their heroics unheralded.
Because of this new awareness, I discovered this short YouTube video This is an amazing recap of Johnny Kue’s family’s survival.
For “15 Fascinating Facts About the Hmong People” including their migration story, originating in the Yellow River area of China to Southeast Asia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand, and then to the US- click here
Then we went to the Sheboygan Elks for the night ($20). It was early enough that we went about a mile away to the Kiwanis Park for PICKLEBALL. It was really weird for about an 1 1/2 – 2 hours. Everyone was playing singles and didn’t seem to want to play doubles!?! One had another twosome join them. We were about to leave after quite a few skinny singles games when some younger guys asked if we were interested in playing. YES!! We played three really good games with them and then we left. (And they had another person arrive.). We really appreciated those last few games!!
We head to the Wisconsin Dells tomorrow.