Minnesota Hmong make plans to attend Vang Pao's Calif. funeral

Members of Minnesota's Hmong community are making alternate plans to witness the funeral of Gen. Vang Pao. The Hmong military leader died last week, and family members say his body will remain in Fresno, California and won't be transported to Minnesota so followers here can pay their respects.

Minnesota is second to California in Hmong population, and is the home of several members of Vang Pao's family. Lee Pao Xiong, director of the Center for Hmong Studies at Concordia University, says organizations are trying to organize air and ground travel arrangements for people who want to attend the funeral in California.

"All of those logistics are being planned, including the possibility of a live satellite feed of the actual funeral activities happening in California," said Xiong.

Vang Pao's funeral begins Feb. 4 in Fresno.

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