MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Gov. Tony Evers has signed Executive Order #260 directing U.S. and Wisconsin flags be flown at half-staff statewide Wednesday, May 14 to mark Hmong-Lao Veterans Day.

The observance, established by state law in 2021, commemorates the Hmong-Lao soldiers who fought alongside U.S. forces during the Vietnam War and later resettled in Wisconsin. The date marks the final day of evacuation from Long Tieng, Laos, in 1975.

Wisconsin is home to the third-largest Hmong population in the country. The proclamation encourages schools to recognize Hmong military contributions and supports continued public education about Southeast Asian American communities.

Evers also acknowledged the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and the Secret War in Laos with a separate proclamation recognizing the resilience of Southeast Asian Americans.