Paw Say Karen Soccer Tournament

HURON — The fourth annual Paw Say Karen Soccer Tournament to celebrate U.S. Independence Day, began with an opening ceremony Friday morning at the Pepsi Soccer Fields in Huron.
All the boys’ and girls’ teams lined up in their groups and walked around the soccer field, then looped around to stand facing the flags, followed by  the U.S. National Anthem and the Karen Anthem.
Lah May Paw Soe, working for the Huron Karen Association, introduced the ceremony. A ribbon-cutting took place, then a speech was heard by Senator Jim White and Smoky Heuston.
The tournament was started four years ago by Paw Say, who passed away last year, and now the tournament is named after him in memory.

It is an event that brings new American citizens and residents together to celebrate the American Independence Day in their new country.
During Heuston’s speech, he had new American citizens in a crowd of hundreds raise their hands, and it was amazing to see how many people have proudly adopted the U.S. as their new home.
There are more than 40 teams, and hundreds of participants in the soccer and volleyball events, plus approximately 50 or more vendors with food, clothes, and a variety of cultural goods.
Kristie Noem was present to address the Karen people on Saturday. On Sunday, the semi-finals and finals took place all day.
Paw Say’s daughter, Kama Paw said, “My dad would have been very proud that the tournament has grown to where it is now, and we hope the community will join us.”

ANGELINA DELLA ROCCO/PLAINSMAN
From left, Too Khu Was, Tmwee Paw, Sophia Taw, Snow Sandy, Was Was Taw, Sabrina Taw, Savanan Taw, Kama Paw, Paw Su May, Chompoo Kids, Endo Was, Sumei Pa and Her Nay Pa, all family members of Paw Say, who the Paw Say Karen Soccer Tournament is named after, gather around his picture at the opening ceremony Friday morning.