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Minneapolis (AP)

Minnesotans travel to Vang Pao funeral

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Gen. Vang Pao
Former Laotian Gen. Vang Pao addressed thousands of supporters when he spoke at the Hmong International New Year's Celebration Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007 in Fresno, Calif. Pao made his first public appearance in California since he was arrested for an alleged attempt to overthrow the communist government in Laos. Pao died on Jan. 6, 2011 in California. He was 81.
AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian

Thousands of Hmong from Minnesota will be traveling to California to pay respects to a man many consider a military hero.

A six-day funeral for Gen. Vang Pao begins Friday in Fresno. About 40,000 people are expected to attend. Gen. Vang died last month at age 81.

Lao Family Community Center spokesperson Kahoua Yang says about 5,000 Minnesotans are expected to attend the funeral.

Kao Chang of Brooklyn Park will be documenting the funeral to bring back home to those who weren't able to attend. Chang tells KARE-TV there will be no one to replace him, his image or his leadership for future generations.

The general led Hmong guerrillas in a CIA-backed battle against communists in Laos and was credited with resettling tens of thousands of Hmong in American cities.

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Information from: KARE-TV

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Gen. Vang Pao
Former Laotian Gen. Vang Pao addressed thousands of supporters when he spoke at the Hmong International New Year's Celebration Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007 in Fresno, Calif. Pao made his first public appearance in California since he was arrested for an alleged attempt to overthrow the communist government in Laos. Pao died on Jan. 6, 2011 in California. He was 81.
AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian