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By Jason Hoppin
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In time for Memorial Day, Minnesota is moving forward with plans for a new war memorial on the Capitol Mall.
The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board is seeking designers for a memorial to honor forces who aided the U.S. military in Laos during the Vietnam War, a key step toward the first state-recognized memorial dealing with the so-called Secret War.
 The idea has been around for some time, but earlier this year the state took a key step by committing to locate the Minnesota Memorial to Special Forces in Laos on the southwestern corner of the mall near the Minnesota Vietnam Memorial.
"We need to bring back their memory and honor and respect them," said Chu Wu, chair of the Committee for the Hmong and Lao Veterans Statue.
The state is kicking in $150,000, with supporters hoping to raise $300,000 more. A handful of design proposals are expected to be available by the end of the summer.
With the assistance of the Central Intelligence Agency, Gen. Vang Pao led the Hmong resistance to the communist Laotian government during the Vietnam War, and the Hmong were noted for rescuing downed U.S. airmen. The memorial is expected to demonstrate the assistance Hmong and other fighters provided to U.S. forces.
After the Vietnam War, many Hmong refugees settled in Minnesota, including Chu Wu. His parents died during the conflict, several uncles were killed, and to this day he doesn't know what happened to a brother.
Many former fighters took menial or anonymous jobs as janitors or cooks, Chu Wu said, giving few clues about their roles in U.S. military history. He said they suffered many of the symptoms that befell returning U.S. soldiers, including stress and depression. "They're here, and nobody realized how important they were during that period," Chu Wu said.
The history of the Secret War has been in the news again recently with the federal government's indictment of Vang Pao on charges he plotted to overthrow the government of Laos. Chu Wu said the memorial is not specific to the Hmong leader.
Similar memorials have been established in Fresno, Calif., and Sheboygan, Wis., both areas with large Hmong populations.
State principal planner Paul Mandell said the recent request for designs would result in a concept drawing. Before giving final approval, he said, the committee needs to show it can raise the necessary additional funding.
"Before we get into (building the memorial), we want to know if we're going to be dealing with $450,000," Mandell said.
Chu Wu said many in the Hmong and Lao community plan to donate money for the project.
"We have a lot of commitments in the community, a lot of folks waiting for the design. They want to see what it looks like before they give us the money," he said.
The memorial would join several on the Capitol Mall, including those honoring women's suffrage, World War II and civil rights pioneer Roy Wilkins.
A workers memorial and one honoring Hubert H. Humphrey also are in the works.
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