The Lao Hmong American War Memorial depicts two Hmong soldiers rescuing a wounded American pilot. This statue honors thousands of Hmong guerrilla fighters enlisted by the CIA during the Vietnam War. Many of those fighters settled in the San Joaquin Valley after the war, and today Fresno is home to one of the largest Hmong populations outside of Laos. The 6-foot bronze statue was dedicated on December 21, 2005, by Mayor Alan Autry. "This Memorial reminds future generations of our enduring appreciation of a people, a time, and a sacrifice that must never be forgotten."
