2022 -- H 8290

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LC005991

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE VENERABLE

PHRA AJAHN BOUNTHANH PRASAVATH

     Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Fenton-Fung, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, J
Lombardi, Hull, Filippi, Diaz, Ajello, and Kennedy

     Date Introduced: May 26, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House has learned of the passing of the

Venerable Phra Ajahn Bounthanh Prasavath of Smithfield. He was an ordained Buddhist Monk

and Head Abbot of Wat Lao Buddhovath of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Prasavath was a native of Laos and while studying to be a Buddhist

Monk as a young man in 1966, he decided to work with the CIA and the United States Special

Forces in an attempt to keep the totalitarian communist forces from taking over his country. He

was trained to be a radio operator for one of the United States Army Special Guerrilla Units

(SGU), and saw combat duty along the Ho Chi Minh trail. More than 35,000 of his fellow SGU

troops perished during the Vietnam War; and

     WHEREAS, After the War, Mr. Prasavath was sent to a prison “re-education camp”,

where he was sentenced to hard labor and daily indoctrination. He remained under harsh

conditions for more than nine years before being able to escape on foot to Thailand. He was very

lucky, because many others who attempted to escape were either shot and killed, or drowned in

the Mekong River; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Prasavath immediately applied for and was granted asylum. He was

sponsored by a fellow SGU radio operator who was living in Connecticut at the time, and Mr.

Prasavath arrived in the United States on August 1, 2007. After spending a few weeks in

Connecticut, he moved to Providence to finish his studies to become a Monk. Upon doing so, he

set upon the task of finding a perfect site to build a Buddhist Temple in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Prasavath found his special place in Smithfield, and built a beautiful

temple on 22 acres of land. The temple is a wonderful and welcoming community of peaceful

people who regularly host many special events for hundreds of people and are so grateful to live

in a land of freedom. Mr. Prasavath proudly hangs his American uniform and numerous photos of

elected officials and dignitaries, including notable photographs of Woonsocket Mayor Lisa-

Baldelli-Hunt in front of a Laotian Flag that she flew at City Hall, Congressman David Cicilline

at an event at the temple, and United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, whose father served as

the United States Ambassador to Laos in 1973; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Prasavath served with distinction as the Head Abbot of Wat Lao

Buddhovath (Buddhist Temple) of Rhode Island, and was a revered pillar of the local Lao

community for more than thirty-six years. He was a kind man who served others with great love

and compassion throughout his entire life; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Prasavath was the loving husband of the late Douangpy Southivong. He

leaves behind his daughter, Phathaviphone Thounsavath and her husband, Kong, and was the

loving grandfather of Kindly, Judy, Sunny and Ruby. He was also the brother of the late Ms.

Thel; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of the Venerable Phra Ajahn Bounthanh

Prasavath and honors him for his heroic service to our nation during the Vietnam War; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Prasavath Family.

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