Proposed Hmong Memorial Park

Hmong Memorial of Grave Desecrations [Conceptual Visions]

National Hmong Grave Desecration Committee (NHGDC)'s proposal for a memorial park, in tribute of Hmoog graves that have been desecrnted at some of the Thai refugee camps, is a vision conceived by a committee of volunteers across the United States of America. The design presented in this package is for conceptual illustration only and is not intended to be located at a specific land site. The design intent of the memorial park is to provide information to Thai authorities and/or officials in the process to prevent future grave desecrations.

One of the goals in this process is to illustrate that Hmong community around the world is committed to assist Thai officials in preserving the Hmong culture as well as celebrating Thai custom as their host nation.  This project’s propose is to create a permanent place for burial in a well planned site for Hmong and other refugees.  It is also a place to show our thanks to the monks at Wat Tham Krabok for their generosity for helping the Hmong for many decades.  When established, the memorial park will create a special place to share Hmong history and provide a beautiful scene to Thailand’s landscape.  The park will become a monument for tourists as well as a peaceful resting place.

Design Narrative

The Hmong Memorial Park was conceived to memorialize the individuals whose graves have been desecrated in some of the refugee camps in Thailand.  Looking into the future as well as remembering the past, the Hmong Memorial Park incorporates both Hmong and Thai cultures in a peaceful and ever restful place.  It will be a part of Hmong history and will be established as a landmark for the country of Thailand.  It is a place celebrating the present and the future of the Hmong and Thai cultures.

The design concept of the Hmong Memorial Park derived from a traditional Hmong paj ntaub pattern - the snail.  It is a common spiral pattern used in cloth embroiry.  It symbolizes continuity or infinity in the circle of life from birth to adulthood to death and reincarnation.  Four "snail" take up most of the approximately 25 acres (10.4 hectares) site with landscaping and paved driveway forming the spiral-shaped pattern.  Burial grounds for desecrated graves are found inside each of the snails.  Moving from the outside inward, visitors travel the spiral roadway experiencing memorial grave stones on either side.  The road comes to a circle at the center of the snail.  Here, stands a monument representing a unique theme for each of the four burial sites - a human journey through life - past, present, future, and the beyond.

"Movement through space" is the basis of the design theme for the Hmong Memorial Park.  Visitors enter the park through a gateway over a bridge that marks the passage to a new world, then onto a boulevard that acts as the main connector of the park.  Rows of bamboo and trees line the boulevard forming a "forest", creating a trail that takes visitors to the center of the park where the main memorial structure is located.  The centerpiece of the memorial consists of the three statues, a Hmong man, a women, and a child holding hands in harmony.  Large stone panels encircle the figures telling stories of the grave desecrations.  The perimeter of the memorial is lined with flag poles flying flags of the nations where Hmong live around the world.  As visitors continue the journey, they leave the memorial and travel through a second "forest" of bamboo and trees and approach the temple and visitor center.

The temple, a traditional Thai architectural style, provides space for the different religions that Hmong practice - animism, Buddhism, and Christianity.  It is a place where people come to pay tribute to their ancestors and pray for future needs.  The visitor center lies east of the temple and contains information on Hmong history as well as about the memorial park.  To the west side of the temple is a third building containing gift shops, cafe, and eatery booths.  The three buildings, each with different uses, have a cohesive design theme incorporating Hmong and Thai cultural elements.

Two gazebos face each other sitting opposite along the outer edge of the park.  The gazebos provide shelters for visitors and ceremonial events.  Both are in simple acrhitectural forms consisting of pitched-roof structure.  they contain space for restrooms, maintenance rooms, and a "living room" for performing ceremonies.  Outside the buildings are additional spaces for events.  Parking lots are located adjacent to each of the structures throughout the memorial park.

The Hmong Memorial Park, with its blend of natural landscape of bamboo, trees, shrubs, and flowers and built structures of temples, gazebos, and monuments, create a place of serenity for visitors and local residents.  It is a unique place representing the many cultures of Thailand.