Marathon Middle School students put on a great show last night in Marathon, Wisconsin. The event was open to the public and the hard work certainly showed in their program. Students and teachers spent the last nine weeks preparing for the evenings festivities. The show centered on the Hmong culture. Displays, dances, guest speakers, all were at their best. Hmong food was served and tasted wonderful. Video shows a nice interview with Natasha Hanke, 6th grade student at the school, and Audrey Wittry, an English teacher. Thank you for sharing your experience with viewers!

The Wausau metro area has about 55,000 residents. Close to 6,000 Hmong are living in this community. The integration, which started over 30-years ago, was clumsy for both cultures at first. Our family is glad this took place. Our son Adam fell in love and married a beautiful woman from this proud culture, Julie. This event helped us learn more about her past and their different celebrations of life. April is Hmong History Month in our city. Different events are taking place across the community.

Thank you teachers, students, and guest speakers. Bao Vang, newscaster from WSAW-TV and Jim Harris talked with the public about their own personal experiences. Bao said “My favorite part of my job is meeting and talking with students in the community. I feel I can really relate to them -- all of them, not just the Hmong kids. They totally inspire me.” She did a great job Monday night inspiring many!

Part 2 will have an interview with Jim about his efforts in removing live bombs in Laos and organizing portable libraries. His website states that over the last several years, 25 schools, churches, civic groups and private individuals in the Wausau area have donated “Book Box Libraries” to village schools. These portable libraries, holding over 100 books, bring the joy of literacy and the hope of an education to Lao children.

To view the school website:Marathon Area Elementary School

Jim Harris interview is at: Bombs, Books, and Compassion.

Extended video here on YouTube.