General Vang Pao was a Hmong cultural icon and former leader of the Royal Army of Laos who recently past away at the age of 81 years old. There is a big Hmong culture in the north state. When Gen. Pao died, the community took some time to honor their leader at a vigil.
Vigils are somethings that provide good emotion, but don't necessarily carry the heavy weight of a funeral. Vigils tend to bring uplifting remembrances, not sad emotions. You must always be respectful of those you are photographing. There still could be strong emotions that last when someone has died. You need to be cautious, but also search out good stories within the scene.
Annie Vang, 16, Kristina Yang, 17, and Melissa Yang, 16, (left to right) sing "How Great Thou Art" during a vigil for Laotian Gen. Vang Pao at the First United Methodist Church in Oroville on Saturday. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chee Vang and Kasia Yang (left to right) pay their respects to Gen. Vang Pao at the First United Methodist Church in Oroville on Saturday.(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
The Hmong community pay their respects at a Vigil for Laotian Gen. Vang Pao at the First United Methodist Church Saturday, January 15, 2011 in Oroville, Calif.
(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
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